National Adult Literacy Database

This tip sheet accompanies a video about memory and what helps improve memory, particularly in seniors.

Memory is the ability to store, retain and recall experiences, and it can be short-term or long-term. As well, there are different types of memory. For example, semantic memory deals with non-personal, factual knowledge, while procedural memory retains learned actions like walking, swimming, or riding a bike.

The authors offer a variety of tips for helping seniors learn, including providing a safe environment with few distractions; using memorization exercises; adding physical activity; repeating information; and involving more than one sense by, for example, both saying and writing the information.

This document and the video it accompanies grew out of a six-month project carried out by the Carnegie Learning Centre, a partnership between Capilano University and the Carnegie Community Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The video can be seen by clicking here: http://library.nald.ca/item/10717.