Why would you need to start with that phrase? Just eliminate that beginning and state the original. Reminding them that they have forgotten something only adds to their confusion and humiliation. That serves no purpose for anyone. This is not an easy thing to learn but I finally learned it and we are both more comfortable with this technique.

I catch myself starting out that way and wish I hadn’t. I quickly stop in the middle of that and just answer the question and try joking about something else to change the moment around. It can get very frustrating, but we can only do the best we can with what we’ve been given.

There really wasn't anything that worked for us. She wouldn't remember she had forgotten no matter how it was presented. She did like to read and reread things on her calendar. My favorite things to remind myself as I loved my sister through her journey was, "You can't reason with dementia". The more I accepted that the softer I could react with her.

They won’t remember. Just tell it again and again until they quit asking. It takes a lot of patience.

A man in my local support group has signs around the house with answers to questions his wife asks repeatedly.
She can still read. So when he’s tired or lost patience with repeating himself, he points to the answer. For example, “what’s for dinner?” He has a sign saying the night’s menu.