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Elaine Phillips, BrainLine
My loved one is constantly misplacing or losing things. Is there something I can do to help her?
Misplacing or losing things is a common complaint as many people have difficulties with attention, memory, and organization after a brain injury. It can be frustrating for everyone.
Helpful tips have a lot to do with making things simpler. Here are a few.
Mail
Go through the mail each day and try to deal with or "touch" things only once. Try to:
- throw out the junk mail right away to cut down on clutter.
- establish a system to organize the bills until it's time for them to be paid.
- note invitations or announcements on the calendar along with the pertinent information like location and time. Once it's all recorded, toss the paper — don't leave things lying around!
Keys, Wallets, and Cellphones
Keys should be kept near the door. You can hang the keys on a hook or use a small container. When you enter the house, always put the keys in their special spot. Some people also post a sign that says "KEYS" as an additional reminder when they come through the door.
Establish a consistent place for other important items. Keep your wallet, glasses, and cell phone, for example, in an easy-to-remember location that always stays the SAME.
Kitchen
Label cabinets and drawers with their contents, such as "Tupperware," "silverware," or "snacks," to keep things organized and easy to find when you need them.
Remember that new behaviors take a lot of practice before they become habits. This is especially true after brain injury, but spending less time looking for things is worth it for everyone.
Elaine Phillips, MSP, CCC-SLP has more than 17 years of experience in the field of brain injury, both as a speech-language pathologist as well as managing the outpatient brain injury rehabilitation program at Roger C. Peace Rehabilitation Hospital in Greenville, SC.
In addition, she is a Certified Brain Injury Specialist-Trainer and is Board President of the Brain Injury Alliance of South Carolina. Elaine is the research consultant for the BrainLine project.
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I always keep my keys in a tray by the door, and if there is ever something I need to leave the house with, I put it with my keys. If it's too large for the tray, I'll hang it from the doorknob or put it on the floor in front of the door. I also have a magnetic hook on the fridge for the times when I need to bring food that needs to stay cold. If my keys aren't in their tray, that's the next place I look.
Nov 10th, 2010 2:45pm