How to Handle a Family Member With Amnesia

Amnesia is a condition that makes a family suffer as much as the patient does. Sometimes the cause of a person's amnesia is physical trauma and other times the cause lies beneath the surface. It's understandable to want your family to return to "normal," but that's not possible sometimes. Instead of focusing on the patient's past, find ways to cope with her amnesia and help her get better.

Things You'll Need

• MRI or CT scan
• Family photographs
• Personal items
• CDs

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Get your family member to a hospital to be tested immediately. Find out the nature of his amnesia through an MRI or CT scan to check for possible strokes or tumors. Be prepared for the possibility of an underlining psychological cause for his condition.

• 2

  Schedule doctor's appointments for when you can be present. Let the doctor explain to you the ramifications of her condition. Ask questions about how you can help her cope and get through everyday life.

• 3

  Decorate his home with him. Help him choose what photographs and favorite items to display throughout the house. Play his favorite CDs to get him interested. Tell him stories about various experiences you two had together. Give him as much detail as possible.

• 4

  Plan a trip with her to a place you visited together. See the same sights you did before. This can often trigger memories. If she doesn't remember anything, focus on having a great trip instead.

• 5

  Help him prepare for a life without his old memories if too much time has passed. Allow him to accept that his condition hasn't improved and may never do so. Tell him to start making new memories and assure him that you'll be there to help him cope with any difficulty he has.