8 Ways to Preserve Family Memories While You Can if Your Parent Has Alzheimer's

An often-overlooked reality of Alzheimer's is that your parent's memories and knowledge of family history will eventually disappear along with her /his personality. Fortunately this doesn't happen instantly. Early in the disease process, even when short-term memory loss is obvious, long-term memories tend to persist. So now's the time to capture what she/he knows for future generations.

Before you're left with regrets that you don't know more about your parent's past, take steps to preserve them. This siren call to action is one of the few upsides to an Alzheimer's diagnosis. As you open a window into your parent's life, you might glean some useful insights into your family life -- and you'll surely enjoy these meaningful ways of spending quality time together now.

1. Record your parent reminiscing.
2. Analyze and digitize old loose images.
3. Pore over photo albums, old and new.
4. Buy a fill-in-the-blank memory book.
5. Fill in your family tree.
6. Travel to your parent's hometown.
7. Learn the stories of things.
8. Get "famous" family recipes down on paper.

Read this in detail: http://www.caring.com/checklists/ways-to-preserve-family-memories