On the occasion of World Alzheimer’s Day, which is celebrated on Friday, September 21, NAMI has carried out the “II study: The memories of the elderly”. Memories are one of the most precious assets that human beings have, and the vision of who we are is based on the memories we have of our life. Furthermore, in older people they acquire even more value for their well-being, since sharing autobiographical memories can bring happiness and even serve as therapy.
The objective of this study, based on the memories of the residents of the 20 NAMI centers in Spain, is to carry out an x-ray of the memory of older people, through their memories. “This year we have gone one step further and, in addition to asking them what their first memory is and the only one they would keep, we wanted to know more playful and emotional aspects of their lives such as those related to their first vacation, their childhood friends, their first toy, or the first time they watched television,”.
The first friend
Although the family is the fundamental pillar of the memories of the elderly, since 75.2% of those surveyed mention the relationship with their parents and funny anecdotes with their siblings as their first memory, childhood friends are a fundamental part of childhood and this is reflected in this study, which confirms that 85.5% still remember the name of their best friend from this stage of life.
Toys are also part of the most pleasant memories. 83.5% of our elders remember the first toy they had. Dolls and figurines are the most frequently referred to (66.5%), whether they are made of fabric, crochet, cardboard, plastic, or even stone. The ball and spinning tops also mark this generation. The luckiest remember a toy bike or car. Among the answers, some curious ones stand out, such as a diabolo, a compass for school or small frames for embroidery.
Travel on vacation
To the question of “If you had to keep only one memory of your life, which one would you choose?”, the majority responds on their wedding day (20%), followed by the birth of their children (16.2%), but playing with siblings and friends in the street or a trip with family or friends are also among the favorite memories of the elderly. In fact, 77.7% of those surveyed remember their first vacation trip. As is the case today, coastal areas were the choice of the majority. Cities with sea such as Torrevieja, Barcelona, Tenerife, Santander or Galicia are some places that respondents mention, although there are also older people who refer to the mountains or the town of their grandparents.
And television arrived
For our elders, the appearance of television was a revolution. A means of communication was born that would change their lives forever. More access to information and entertainment came home to stay. 57.9% of the elderly who participated in NAMI’s study remember the first time they watched television. It is not easy to remember what was broadcast at that time; Some of the most general answers are the NODE, bullfights, novels, drawings… but there are also very specific ones such as Rocío Dúrcal, Jesús Hermida, the Kennedy assassination or the Colacao announcement. What many of them have pointed out is where they saw it: at a relative’s house, at the bar across the street from the house or at the casino, responses that reflect that access to television took place gradually until it became an essential appliance in every home.
Stew and rice are your favorite foods
Another aspect that has been discussed in this II Study is related to food. Eating is one of the pleasures of life and if this moment can be experienced with the family, it is even more enjoyable. Therefore, it is not surprising that 87% of those surveyed remember their favorite food from childhood. Cooked (17.6%) and rice or paella (17.5%) are preferred. Also migas and fried eggs, all very typical dishes of popular gastronomy. The majority opt for salty, but there are also very sweet ones. Among the most frequently referred to desserts, rice pudding and chocolate stand out (5.6%).
The results of this study reflect the importance of affective memory (which is the last to be lost in Alzheimer’s patients), the transcendence of values such as love and friendship, and the customs of a generation.
For NAMI professionals it is very interesting to know the residents’ memories, since through them, they can learn about their life history and provide care centered on the person and adapted to their life experience. In the intervention with patients with Alzheimer’s, NAMI’s multidisciplinary teams promote cognitive, sensitive and emotional abilities through tools such as reminiscence, stimulation rooms and memory workshops, among others. All these activities promote the physical, mental and emotional well-being of these residents, improving their quality of life.
