Do you keep forgetting where you put your keys, or find yourself struggling to remember someone’s name you’ve just been introduced to?
Relax – it’s perfectly normal, and there are simple strategies available to cope with the challenges of ageing, and to sharpen your memory.
A team of researchers from LaTrobe University and Caulfield Hospital has developed the LaTCH memory group program, a 12-hour course over six weeks that offers people aged 60 and over practical skills training for managing memory in everyday life.
One of the program developers, Professor Glynda Kinsella, said the program is based on research evidence and clinical experience.
A pilot project led to a major evaluation trial, which was funded by an National Health and Medical Research Council grant.
“Managing memory gives people the confidence to stay in control and not be overwhelmed or anxious about memory slippages,” she said.
“We also look at how memory works and aspects of lifestyle that affect it. Many things can be done to maintain engagement and adopt a new attitude towards ageing, without the stigma that’s often present”.
Professor Kinsella said the program works very effectively in a group environment. “It’s a powerful way to build self-confidence. People share the problems and issues they have with memory and it normalises those experiences for everyone.
“Trained facilitators run groups but it is the participants who bring their real world experiences into the discussion that really makes the practical strategies relevant – different things work for different people.”
The program is designed for older people who want to be proactive about understanding and improving memory.
The team is also working with Alzheimer’s Australia to develop a version of the program for those with established and diagnosed memory difficulties.
Murray and Beth, aged 76 and 74 respectively, undertook the LaTCH program and said it had made a big difference to their lives. “In the weeks since we did the course we’ve found ourselves applying various principles, and we’ve come to appreciate how helpful it’s been,” Beth said.
“We’ve learned not to panic when we forget things, and have put things in place to help us avoid repetitive problems like forgetting to take my glasses and phone with me when I leave the house.”
Murray said he found a useful aspect from the course was the notion of “being present” in a situation – that is, engaged and paying more attention to what is going on and being said.
“It’s simple things like taking notice of someone’s name and consciously remembering it when you’re introduced,” he said. “It’s easy as you get older to lose the edge, or exist in a dull space where you’re letting things wash over you, instead of a bright space where you’re engaged and taking things in.”
The program runs at LaTrobe University’s Psychology Clinic, and the team is hoping to make it more widely available.
- For more information visit: LaTrobe University’s Psychology Clinic
- To contact the team about any aspect of the memory groups program, email LaTCH.latrobe@gmail.com
* To comply with LaTCH’s policy of anonymity for memory group participants, Murray and Beth are fictitious names.
