Daily Journal

Our Expert Dementia Care Team Is Here to Help
As dementia robs a loved one of their cognitive abilities and memories,
there are steps an in-home caregiver can take to try to prolong the healthy
mental state of that person. These steps are found in simple routines
and mental exercises that you can do together.
One routine for someone with dementia is to keep a daily journal. The
journal can help the person suffering from dementia with their daily orientation
as well as encourage them to express their feelings in writing.
When first starting the journal, the caregiver may need to provide suggestions
and act as a guide. For example, the caregiver might tell them the day
and date and describe the weather. “Write down that it is Monday,
February 19, 2018. The weather is clear and cool.”
Once the routine of journaling is established, the in-home caregiver should
instruct the person to share their feelings in the journal, as well. There
should never be any pressure to write anything at all; however, they should
be given the option, along with assistance as needed.
It can be helpful to the caregiving team to review the journal to see
if it is being used and if there are any changes in ability to write in
the journal. If the loved one begins to feel that the journal is private,
then that should always be respected.
Contact Homewatch CareGivers® to learn more about how a daily journal may be beneficial for your loved one living with dementia.