Leveraging life history
Personal stories, experiences and memories from the past can be a powerful tool in supporting the delivery of more personalised, compassionate dementia care.
Personal stories, experiences and memories from the past can be a powerful tool in supporting the delivery of more personalised, compassionate dementia care.
Understanding the background and preferences of a person with dementia makes it easier to tailor care to their values, routines and interests. Having access to information about, e.g., a person’s favourite foods, hobbies, music or cultural practices can guide decisions about daily routines, communication styles and activities, especially if the person is struggling to express themselves.
People with dementia can often be better able to retain long-term memories than more recent ones. Talking about the past, using photo albums or familiar music, can spark recognition and conversation, and helps build a sense of trust and security.
Drawing on familiar references or following familiar routines, for example associated with a former workplace can calm anxiety and reduce agitation.
A documented life story will help care staff, especially in hospitals, to quickly understand the person with dementia, making it easier for them to deliver fully person-centred care. For family and loved ones, this can be very reassuring.
Life story books, memory boxes or digital apps can preserve key information. These tools are particularly useful as dementia progresses, and verbal communication becomes more difficult.