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Memory & Me, Bowral (2026)

13/04/2026

There are many great ways to connect with your loved one.

Visual reminiscing using family photos, familiar images of past and present interests (Trains, cars, baking tools, gardening) printable games such as bingo, word searches, and spot the difference can all be placed in these washable sleeves to project photos and make games reusable.

Simply wipe it down and reuse it time and time again.

03/04/2026

Reading to someone living with dementia is a simple activity that can have a meaningful impact. It’s not about finishing a book or understanding every word - it’s about connection, comfort, and shared moments.

Benefits of reading to your loved one:

• Stimulates the brain and encourages mental engagement
• Provides comfort and can help reduce anxiety or agitation
• Strengthens emotional connection and bonding
• Encourages communication and shared moments
• Can trigger memories and support reminiscence
• Promotes relaxation and calm

You don’t need to choose long or complex material. Short stories, poetry, newspapers, magazines, or even familiar childhood favourites can work beautifully.

Reading in a calm, gentle voice creates a reassuring environment and allows your loved one to simply enjoy your presence. Even if they don’t respond, listening can still be comforting and meaningful.

12/02/2026

Good afternoon everyone,

We’re getting very close to Memory & Me going live — just not quite as close as we had hoped. This past week I’ve been navigating the final days of pregnancy, which has understandably slowed things down a little.

With that in mind, we are officially moving the launch date to Monday the 16th to allow a little more time to have everything perfectly in place.

Thank you so much for your patience and support.

I can’t wait for Monday.

Kayleigh

10/02/2026

Memory and me was created with intention to help our ageing population, those living with dementia and their loved ones by providing education, tools and resources to help bring joy, meaning and calm to each day.

Working in aged care for many years, I found that a lot of the people and families I met were given access to care and medical services- which we are so incredibly lucky to have, but there is a gap that needs to be bridged in terms of holistic, emotional and social care.

09/02/2026

ANNOUNCEMENT 📣

Good evening everyone,

I am very excited to announce, that after many months of work behind the scenes, Aged & Dementia Support Australia is rebranding to “Memory & Me”

All is set for this Friday 13th February- coincidentally the same week that I am expecting baby number two.. so let’s see how all that works out!

Memory & Me will be providing physical and digital resources that will be available for those of you who are caring for someone with dementia.

I can’t wait to share with you all what I’ve been working on.. keep an eye out for tomorrow’s post where I’ll be letting you know exactly what type of digital resources I have created.

Kayleigh.

19/01/2026

How to support your friends or family through a dementia diagnosis – Part 2

Good evening everyone, tonight’s post is in addition to my previous post (how to support your friends or family through a dementia diagnosis part 1)

So if you missed that post, feel free to scroll down and see that post too.

In Part 2, we look at ways you can support a friend or family member through a dementia diagnosis from a slightly less involved position.

Dementia can be confronting. Many people carry feelings of guilt for not knowing how to show up or for not feeling emotionally ready to be closely involved. If this is you, you are far from alone. It is more common than you might think, and there are still meaningful ways to help if visiting in person isn’t something you’re able to do right now.

Care packages
These don’t need to be elaborate. A simple box can be incredibly powerful. You might include photos linked to the person’s interests—animals, places they’ve travelled, past hobbies—or photos of the two of you together. You could also create snack boxes with favourite foods (keeping in mind that dietary needs may change, as swallowing difficulties can arise). Other thoughtful additions might include socks, magazines, puzzle books, or pre-made meals. These packages can be easily tailored to the individual.

Acts of service
Offering practical help such as dropping off groceries, mowing lawns, or helping with home maintenance can be a lifeline for families or spouses caring for someone with dementia. These small acts often make a huge difference.

Clothing
Some families choose not to access provider services and care for their loved one independently. For others, finances may be tight due to living on a pension or selling a home to move into aged care. Helping to replace seasonal clothing can be a genuinely supportive gesture—warm jumpers, bathrobes, slippers, socks, and everyday essentials.
During my time working in aged care, I saw many residents without adequate clothing for their environment. There is a common assumption that care homes provide clothing, but this isn’t the case. Many care workers, myself included, have paid out of pocket to help residents who simply couldn’t afford what they needed.

Supporting the carer
You can also help by supporting the spouse or family carer to take a break. Researching available support services and passing this information on—or even making first contact on their behalf—can be incredibly helpful. Some carers avoid services not because they don’t need them, but because the system feels overwhelming during an already difficult time.

Sometimes support doesn’t look like being present all the time. Sometimes it can look like quiet, practical help that eases the load.

13/01/2026

How to Support Friends or Family After a Dementia Diagnosis — Part 1

If you have recently learned that a friend or family member has received a dementia diagnosis, it’s completely natural to feel a wide range of emotions. Shock, sadness, and uncertainty are common, and you may not know what to say or how to respond.

In my experience working with families affected by dementia, it’s not uncommon for friends and extended family to withdraw. The reasons vary from person to person. Some may find the diagnosis confronting, others may feel unsure about how to offer support, and some may hold misconceptions about what dementia actually is.

Although the person you know may begin to behave differently and their memory may change over time, there are still many meaningful ways to connect with them.

I recently heard a quote that really resonated with me:
“People with dementia still have their memories — they just have trouble accessing them.”

By understanding a few key things about dementia, you can adapt your relationship and continue to support your friend or family member throughout their journey.

So, let’s look at one powerful way to connect.

People with dementia can often access memories through their senses — taste, smell, touch, sight, and sound. If you know this person well, you’ll likely be familiar with things they love: favourite foods or drinks, flowers, music, or places they once visited. Use this to your advantage.

Cook their favourite meal or dessert, bring them flowers, print photos from meaningful moments in their life, or play music they love. These senses have a direct pathway to the brain and can unlock memories, familiarity, and moments of joy through their journey.

11/01/2026

Happy Monday to you all.

I hope you had a lovely weekend.

I thought I’d kick off the week by sharing some guidance on how to set up activities for your loved one for the days ahead. Planning in advance is a great way to get ahead, reduce stress, and provide meaningful activities for your loved one to engage in.

If you’re caring for someone living with dementia, you may not always know what the day will bring. Every day can look different, and routines can feel unpredictable.

Preparing for the day the night before — or before your loved one gets up in the morning — can help set you up for success, or simply give you a quiet moment to tend to yourself before the day begins.

During my time working in aged care, one of the things we did as Activity Officers and Diversional Therapists was prepare a range of clearly labelled activity boxes. This meant we could simply grab a box and go, without scrambling to figure out what to do in the moment. Activities were planned around the weather, cultural events, and most importantly, our residents’ moods, energy levels, and personal interests.

If you’re setting this up for one person at home, you can tailor the boxes around your loved one’s likes and interests. Breaking activities into a few different categories can make things feel more manageable and flexible.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

Interactive Activity Box
Musical instruments (such as a tongue drum or harmonica), CDs, concert DVDs, puzzles, and board games.

Sensory Box
Hand cream for gentle hand massages, scent bags made using hessian bags and familiar household scents such as coffee, peppermint tea, cinnamon, or lavender. (Smell is a powerful way to help unlock memories.)

Passive Activity Box
Magazines, books, adult colouring, puzzle books, and photo albums.

Active Games Box
Games that can be easily adapted for chair participation, such as balloon tennis, chair cycling, ball toss, or bean bag toss.

31/12/2025

Hello everyone, and a very happy New Year to you all.

I wanted to share a little update on my recent absence from social media. This year, I made the decision to step away from working directly in the community sector and move in a new direction, focusing on a project I’ve been developing since early 2025.

My goal has always been to support the ageing and dementia community in the most meaningful way I can — through what I’m most passionate about and skilled in: storytelling, and providing realistic, accessible online support through resources I’ve written myself.

This shift came at the same time I found out I was expecting baby number two, and it felt like the right moment to create a path that allowed me to focus on motherhood while still supporting the ageing community.

I’ve since written a collection of age-appropriate short stories designed for therapeutic storytelling, along with practical book resources to support families and caregivers navigating the care of elderly loved ones and those living with dementia.

Through this work, I’ll be sharing burnout prevention strategies, guidance on caring for someone with dementia, tips for creating a dementia-friendly home, support around nutrition and gentle exercise, as well as age-appropriate activities to help you meaningfully engage with your loved one.

I’ll be launching everything toward the end of January, alongside a rebrand of Aged & Dementia Support Australia.

I’m incredibly excited to finally share this with you all, and I can’t wait for what’s ahead.

Kayleigh.

Memory & Me

13/04/2026

03/04/2026

12/02/2026

10/02/2026

09/02/2026

19/01/2026

13/01/2026

11/01/2026

31/12/2025

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