Memory Aid

A tool or device that supports memory function by providing external cues, reminders, or stored information that a person can reference. For people with dementia or other cognitive impairments, memory aids may include wallets with photos and captions, communication boards, calendars, labels, notebooks, or electronic devices displaying personally relevant information. Research shows that memory aids can improve the quality of conversations for people with dementia by reducing ambiguous utterances and increasing factual statements. Memory aids leverage recognition memory (which remains relatively intact in moderate dementia) rather than requiring free recall.