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Life story

Produced by Bupa's Health Information Team, March 2011.

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Life story video

Video transcript

Life story work is, essentially, reminiscing. What you are doing is recovering a person by concentrating on their past. It brings back to life again their history. In essence, their history’s no longer consigned to the past. We actually talk about it in the present.

It doesn’t necessarily make a person better but it will most definitely improve their mood. They’ll feel better as a consequence of focusing on what’s important to them. And what is critically important as well is that it means that we know that we have something to do with that older person. We can sit and talk and engage with that person, share happy moments. It’s not all about caring for somebody in a physical way.

Life story work can be carried out in a number of ways. And that’s one of the beauties of that activity: it’s never boring. You can carry it out as a group or one-to-one. Group life story work tends to be more impersonal. You talk to people about what life was like in the 1930s or 40s, or 1950s. One-to-one work: well, that’s more personal, it’s more intimate. It gives the person the opportunity to talk not only about the good times but also the less good times. And so that’s a more intimate life story activity.

Now, that might result in the creation of a life story book. A life story book is about people’s lives and memories. It contains photographs, pictures, letters and a narrative. It tells the story of who a person is. It’s the tangible product of life story activity, which means it’s an activity as you create the book but it is also something very pleasant that you can take away. It’s a tangible outcome of engaging in life story activity.

Something else that can come out of a one-to-one life story session is the creation of a memory box. And that is what it says: it’s a box of things. Because not everything that’s important to a person from their past can go into a book. So it’s a box full of trinkets, memorabilia, knick-knacks from the past, as well as photographs and letters. It’s a box that you can look in, rummage in, take items out, talk about. And that person’s life then comes into the present, rich because you’re actually showing them something that is tangible from their past. So, it’s an alternative to creating a life story book.

Hayley Dunn, Senior activities co-ordinator:

With dementia, the past memory is ever so fresh in their mind like it only happened yesterday. So if we can tune in on that, then we get greater activity going on. Everyone starts to chat, everyone starts to socialise. So that’s why I feel it’s very important to have these reminiscence sessions.

Dr Graham Stokes, Director of Dementia Care, Bupa:

Life story work is very rewarding for both the person who is caring and the person who’s being cared for. For the person who’s being cared for, it lifts their mood because they’re talking about happier times. For the person who’s caring, if it’s a professional carer, then they’re finding out something unique about a person that previously they didn’t know. For a family carer, it’s all about shared memories. Again, we have quality time.

This video is intended for general information only and it does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.

Further information

This information was published by Bupa's Health Information Team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been reviewed by appropriate medical or clinical professionals. Photos are only for illustrative purposes and do not reflect every presentation of a condition. The content is intended only for general information and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional. For more details on how we produce our content and its sources, visit the About our Health Information page.

Release date: March 2011

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