Description
Remembering Together
Making a life history book can be an enjoyable and empowering activity for a person with dementia which may enable greater interaction and open up communication between someone with dementia and their carers, family and friends.
A life history book may be something that visitors can look through with a person, or it can be referred to by professionals to learn more about the person they are providing care for.
Lots of ideas to go away and research – good to meet others and share experiences and ideas. I feel more confident to go away and plan some reminiscence activities. I have more insight into the benefits and what’s involved.
– Course participant
Life history work was originally developed for engagement and support of those adopted or in care, to foster a sense of belonging and identity. We offer this training to encourage intergenerational integration, and a sense of local cohesion.
Through these guided sessions, participants and carers receive resources, and reminiscence training and activities to support their life history development , as well as materials to make creative life history books. These books are compiled to capture memories and stories about a person’s life, significant especially for older people experiencing a change in circumstances, the onset of Dementia or as a memory of a life lived.
Strike a Light – Arts & Heritage training offers plans for sessions which encourage the sharing of memories in a physically engaging way, recording experiences, celebrating local lives and supporting the creation of a life history book to be kept and shared into the future.
The supported creation of a life history book can be enjoyed in a way that puts people in control of their own life story. The books created in sessions are something that participants can share with visitors, explore with local residents, or can be referred to by carers and family members to learn more about the person they are providing care for.
The sessions include:
- Using old photographs, photocopies, maps, collage, text, printable resources and more. We will work together over the course of the sessions to create a beautiful, bespoke book which will celebrate the life of a loved one, helping them to remember happy times, key events.
- Memory triggers to encourage remembering of family and friends
- Reminiscence tips and techniques to support life history work.
The course includes the provision of a beautiful life book, resources, planning, materials and refreshments, as well as interim support, expertise, care and suggestions.
Course Structure
Week One – 10am-1pm:
- Register and Introductions
- What is Life Story work? More information about this
- Using Life History books (and other related media)
- Looking through Resources – printed sheets about Dementia and Life Story work, as well as reference information
11.30am: Break (refreshments provided)
- Informal activity – Useful for people with dementia, or passing on as a skill for those working in social care
- Start book making activity – with our life books and resources. Decision – Will book be for family member/friend, or as template for using in your own work?
Week Two – 10am-1pm:
- Family Tree activity – this will be useful for people with dementia, or passing on as a skill for those working in social care
- Exploring materials – looking through some of the materials we will be using or could use
- Book making activity
11.30am: Break (refreshments provided)
- Quiz – A fun informal activity, useful for people with dementia, or passing on as a skill for those working in social care
- Continue book making activity
Week Three – 10am-1pm:
- Course resources – paperwork about this theme and reference information
- Book making activity
11.30am: Break (refreshments provided)
- Continue book making activity
- Quiz – A fun informal activity, useful for people with dementia, or passing on as a skill for those working in social care
Week Four – 10am-1pm:
- Reminiscence activity – Use of memory triggers for people with dementia
- Continue book making
11.30am: Break (refreshments provided)
- Finish book making activity
- Online resources (Dropbox)
- Sign posting to other resources/course/ activities and support
- Course evaluation
Benefits of the Course
- A distraction technique for refocusing during difficult symptoms
- A security tool when person is taken to unfamiliar places such as the hospital or care home
- Promotes well-being, validation and celebration of a person
- A bridge to the past
- Provides opportunities for pride and enhanced self-esteem
- Re-builds family relationships
The workshops will include:
- Using old photographs, photocopies, maps, collage, text, printable resources and more; we will work together over the course of four sessions to create a beautiful, bespoke booklet which will celebrate the life of your loved one, helping them to remember happy times and key events.
- Memory triggers to encourage remembering of family and friends
- Reminiscence tips and techniques to support life history work
Life history book can be particularly positive for the following groups:
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Training to enable encouraging young people in foster care and also older third age participants to engage with their memories and lives to create memory books celebrating the sharing of local memories.
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Training to create activities for those experiencing early onset dementia, as a way to help support their life changes and memory loss in a positive and grounding way. Having experience in the realm of dementia and being part of a local dementia alliance network means we were able to support and engage training for professionals, freelancers, staff, volunteers and artists on this level in an experienced and skilled way.
Group Bookings
We are also happy to provide tailor made training specifically for your groups in a location of your choice. To discuss your learning requirements, please contact us.
