Memory problems are very common cognitive deficits in brain injuries, strokes and  dementia. Unfortunately, “fixing” cognitive impairments by cognitive training is not always posible.  In order to help patients with their everyday activities and to increase their quality of life, number of external aids is available and should be brought to patients and their families attention.

In general, external aids are easy to use, accurate, and dependable. In particular, external aids are preferred for reminding oneself to do things.

Low tech aids include pencil/paper systems and simple organization tools:

• Diary and calendar. Make sure your diary is portable, that you bring it with you everywhere and record all appointments, meetings, etc.  A wall calendar  helps with time orientation and is useful for writing down important appointments, social occasions, etc.
• Shopping lists and to do lists – help organize your day
• Checklists for specific routines (e.g., laundry routine, homework routine)
• Written memos/ notes to yourself put in prominent places
• Taking photographs – e.g. of people we met for the first time
• Clocks, oven timers, alarms on watches – to remind ourselves to start/ stop a certain activity
• Putting objects in a conspicuous place (keyring for keys by the door, a special place for a wallet and having „in-tray“ for bills and letters,
• Using medication boxes to organize medications by day and time
• Printed list of telephone numbers by the phone

High tech aids include electronic devices that have a range of programming options and uses, e.g. digital voice recorder, programmable watch, PDA (personal digital assistant, Smartphone, etc.

Effective use of memory aids requires good habits. It’s no good remembering to make a note in your diary if you don’t remember to look in it.

Remember, using external  memory aids  is not cheating. Don´t assume that because something is important to you, you will automatically remember it!