Counterpart to "out of sight, out of mind" is "I need to see it"

dancsfo

Many people know of "out of sight, out of mind", where if a PWD does not see something, it is forgotten. So I take anything that can cause problems and hide it, or stuff it into a bag to carry it away. An example is a bottle of meds where pills can be taken if I leave it out and I don't keep an eye on it. I hide it as soon as I can.

I realized that a counterpart is "I need to see it". Under the illusion of preparing for a meal and not knowing what ingredients are in the kitchen, items from the pantry or the fridge are laid out of the counter. This seems to be one of the reasons for rummaging.

It can lead to prying open an electric pot/kettle or opening an oven repeatedly if a PWD does not remember what may be inside and does not realize I already had turned them on to cook. This can be dangerous if the kettle or oven is very hot.

Putting things in a clear container helps a bit. An example is a clear plastic bin or drawers used in a closet, so that a PWD may see what's inside. Otherwise, items are removed and laid out in the open. Some clear containers for the pantry can sometimes help, rather than an opaque canister. (But this can only go so far, if the PWD can't distinguish salt from sugar, or cereal from pasta; seeing does not help with understanding what it is)

Damiross

SDianeL

thank you. This will help many caregivers.