Cognition and Daily Life
Our thinking skills help us manage everyday life — remembering information, following steps, making decisions, solving problems and staying organised.
Changes in cognition can happen for many reasons, including normal ageing, illness, fatigue, stroke, mild cognitive impairment, dementia, or other health conditions.
These changes can affect everyday activities such as:
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Preparing meals
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Managing medications
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Keeping track of appointments
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Following routines
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Managing household tasks
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Finding items around the home
Sometimes a person may still know how to do a task, but find it harder to remember the steps, get started, stay focused, or manage unexpected changes.
Other times, changes in memory or thinking can mean that tasks need to be adapted or supported differently.
The goal is not to take activities away.
It is to understand what is making the task difficult and find ways to help the person remain as involved and independent as possible. Learn more about memory and thinking here!
OT Thought
Changes in thinking and memory do not mean someone cannot do everyday activities.
Small changes can help them stay involved, independent and confident for longer.
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Ways to Support Thinking Skills
Make Tasks Simpler
Many everyday activities involve multiple steps that we complete without thinking.
For example, making lunch involves:
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Deciding what to eat
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Finding ingredients
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Preparing food
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Using kitchen equipment
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Remembering each step
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Cleaning up afterwards
When thinking skills change, breaking activities down can make them easier to manage.
Helpful strategies include:
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Breaking tasks into smaller steps
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Giving one instruction at a time
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Offering simple choices
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Preparing items in advance
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Keeping frequently used items in familiar places
Instead of:
“What do you want for lunch?”
Try:
“Would you like soup or a sandwich?”
A little more structure can make activities feel more achievable.
Keep People Involved
When someone has difficulty with memory or thinking, it is natural for family members to step in and take over.
However, people maintain confidence and abilities by continuing to participate.
The aim is to find the right balance between support and independence.
Too little support can lead to frustration or failure.
Too much support can reduce opportunities to practise skills.
A helpful approach is:
"Do with, not do for."
This might mean:
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Letting the person start the activity
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Offering prompts or reminders if needed
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Allowing extra time
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Supporting the more difficult parts of a task
For example:
Someone may need help organising a meal but can still choose what they want to eat, prepare some ingredients, or set the table.
Being involved matters.
Use Supports That Help Memory
Memory aids and visual reminders can act as an external support for the brain.
They can reduce the need to rely on memory alone.
Examples include:
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Calendars for appointments and important dates
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Whiteboards showing the day's plan
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Labels on cupboards and drawers
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Checklists for daily routines
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Notes in helpful places
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Medication reminders or organisers
The most effective supports are:
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Simple
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Consistent
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Easy to see
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Used regularly
The aim is not to highlight what someone cannot remember. It is to provide support that allows them to continue doing more for themselves.
Reduce Distractions
Attention can become more difficult when there are competing sounds, conversations or activities happening at the same time.
A calmer environment can support concentration.
Helpful strategies include:
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Turning off the television during important tasks
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Avoiding giving instructions while someone is distracted
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Focusing on one activity at a time
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Choosing a quieter space for tasks that require concentration
Sometimes changing the environment can make a task significantly easier.