April 5, 2017 | Client Stories, Connectedness, Mental Health
Windward Life Care’s Aging Life Care™ Managers are a resourceful bunch when it comes to finding new ways to enhance the quality of life of those in their care.
Recently Associate Care Manager Heather Arsenault created a “Memory Match Game” for her client “Gayle” using Gayle’s own photos. Heather is Windward Life Care’s “photo guru.” Previously, she had made several treasured keepsakes for clients by using their family photos to create personalized scrapbooks, mugs, and calendars.
The Memory Match Game features pairs different family photos printed on small, cardboard squares – like a card game. The cards are arranged face down in a grid, and the client is asked to search for a match by turning over two cards at a time until the match is found. The game can be played with just four cards, all 24 cards, or any number in between, depending on the capabilities of the client.
We showed the game to our consulting geriatric psychiatrist, Hossein Samadi, MD, who was enthusiastic about its value for brain stimulation. Dr. Samadi explained, matching task stimulates the frontal lobe’s problem-solving, sequencing, and processing functions. The parietal lobe’s visual recognition and three-dimensional construction functions are also engaged. Finally, the temporal lobe gets activated by the memory, logic, and reasoning aspects of the game.”
In addition to being mentally stimulating for clients, the game is quite fun! It encourages interaction between the client and professional caregiver, or a family member, providing opportunities for socialization and reminiscence, and prompting new conversation topics. Gayle’s family has voiced their appreciation for this creative and personalized “brain game.”
The Memory Match Game is just one example of how Windward’s Aging Life Care Managers take a holistic approach to caring for each client. Activities like this engage the heart and mind to stimulate and enrich the client’s overall well-being.