Life Stories Documents
A life story project can take many forms, from memory boxes, to poetry, to movie-making, but it usually starts with the making of a life story book.
This is my life!
These documents tell about what's most important to the person: the special times, places and people from their past.
I remember one gentleman I worked with used to carry his book with him everywhere he went, because, as he explained, ‘This is my life!’ Being able to share his life with others became especially important at a time when everything else - his mobility, his independence, and mental clarity - seemed to be slipping away. This was his way of maintaining his sense of self.
Involving family
Life story documents are designed to show as well as tell about a person's life. Choosing photographs to illustrate a story can be a fun way for family to get involved. In the following video. Life Stories in Dementia Care, Jill and her father Tom reflect on their experience of co-creating a life story document.
Connecting lives through stories
As Jill explains, creating a life story document together is, in itself, an enjoyable activity. It is also an occasion to provide future generations with a lasting family legacy.
Here are some other ways that life story documents can make a difference:
A bridge to communication and conversation
Much of what a person holds dear - their values, personal qualities and key relationships from the past - will be woven into their story. Reading the story together can be a very uplifting experience for the storyteller and a lovely way for friends, family and professional caregivers to spend quality time with them.
While memories may fade, the recorded story will always be available to bring pleasure to the present moment and there is plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest that people with dementia can still recognize their stories and find comfort in hearing them read aloud, even if they can no longer tell them.
A life-line during times of change
Life story documents provide a link between the past and the present and this can be particularly helpful during times of loss or change. In the video Life Stories in Dementia Care, Tom's daughter explains how the story and pictures that show and tell about her parents' meeting and marriage were a great source of comfort for her father when his wife passed away.
A resource for caregivers
Life story documents can also be helpful when a person living with dementia moves from the familiar surroundings of their home into a residential or long term care setting. Having a life story document on hand will make it easier for professional caregivers to get to know the person and to personalize their care.
A record of social history
Collected Stories from The Reminiscence Project is a collection of nine personal stories told by people living with dementia about special times, places and people from their lives. These stories reveal their authors to be custodians of a unique way of life and experts on ways of living that prioritize reciprocity and caring for others. The collected stories volume includes photographs from the The Reminiscence Project, as well as guidelines for using the stories in a recreational setting.