I'm a medical student and had to conduct several simple short-term memory tests (Mini Mental State Examinations, or MMSEs for short) today. It's quite upsetting

I'm a medical student and had to conduct several simple short-term memory tests (Mini Mental State Examinations, or MMSEs for short) today. It's quite upsetting for the patient when they don't even know how to spell 'world' backwards, or can't recall the words "ball car man" that you told them half a minute earlier. I wonder if this concept will improve both long term and short term memory, or just the latter?