Life History Books

Creating a communication tool

Do you know someone who:

-needs help remembering?

-has trouble staying on topic?

-can’t find the words they want

-has difficulty understanding you

-has lots of stories to tell?

A Life History Book can

enhance conversation,

trigger memories and

redirect negative behaviours.

Life History Books can be

used to answer repetitive

questions. Visual reminders

of answers to frequently

asked questions are

comforting and calming.

Life History Books provide

something to talk about so

that conversations can be

longer and more meaningful.

pages from Audrey’s Life History Book

5

Creation of a Life History Book involves interviewing to find out what’s

important. The “book” can be printed or on a tablet .

Photos must be chosen and text formatted. An access plan is essential to ensure everyone uses the book.

Click on the Life History Book icons to more information about each section.

Click the icon to return to this page.

Interviewing

The first step of creating a Life History Book is to interview the person and their family. Patience, sensitivity and a willingness to listen are necessary. ASK ABOUT:

Family names - spouse, children, brothers and sisters, grand children friends Pet names Places - born, lived, travelled to, family homes education occupations hobbies clubs church special honours, occasions

Bourgeois, M (2014) Memory & Communication Aids for People with Dementia

Interviewing

DementiaUK has a free Life Story template that could be used for interviewing. It’s available for download at https://www.dementiauk.org/for-healthcare-professionals/free-resources/life-story-work/

Thompson R. (2011) Using life story work to enhance care. Nursing Older People 23 (8): 16-21

Categories in this template

childhood working life significant relationships significant places social activities and interests life events

Including the Here and Now

food & drink preferences personal care music TV shows hobbies staff

Interviewing

You could take a timeline approach to interviewing and fill in from birth to now with important events

1932 1954 2016 1958

Users of Life History Books often have difficulty with vision and attention. Elaborate photo albums are often confusing and not useful as communication tools.

PHOTO selection tips

only one photo per page clear images 3 or fewer people per photo

Life History Book users can often read single words and phrases. Labels help with recall and word retrieval.

Caption tips:

Trial text size with user to make sure it’s large enough.

Use short, simple sentences

Provide names of people and places

Use the users own words when possible

Using a tablet to create and share your Life History Book is easy and has advantages

Favourite music can be included along with photos and text

Text can be read aloud by the tablet to assist users with low vision or literacy

Backlighting of photos can help those with poor vision

Pictello on itunes

Make a digital book using Pictello app from the App store on your Apple device

Pictello on itunes

Make a digital book using Pictello app from the App store on your Apple device

Add a photo

Pictello on itunes

Make a digital book using Pictello app from the App store on your Apple device

Add text to aid memory and word retrieval

Add sound to speak the text or play music

Pictello on itunes

Make a digital book using Pictello app from the App store on your Apple device

Make multiple books to share with different friends, family and caregivers

Story Creator on Google Play

Make a digital book using Story Creator app from Google Play on your Android tablet

Story Creator on Google Play

Make a digital book using Story Creator app from Google Play on your Android tablet

Add a photo and text to a page

Story Creator on Google Play

Make a digital book using Story Creator app from Google Play on your Android tablet

Use the pen tool

Story Creator on Google Play

Make a digital book using Story Creator app from Google Play on your Android tablet

Add sound to speak the text or play music

Story Creator on Google Play

Make a digital book using Story Creator app from Google Play on your Android tablet

Make multiple books to share with different friends, family and caregivers

A Life History Book is a communication tool. Users should be able to locate their books independently. The book should be visible to all communication partners.

DO: hang on a hook by a favourite chair attach to wheelchair bring with you on outings to restaurants and waiting rooms attach to a necklace or walker store on a hook on the wall make backup copies DON’T:

put away in a drawer use original copies of photos

Resources

www.dementia.uk.org Thompson R. (2011) Using life story work to enhance care. Nursing Older People 23 (8): 16-21

Bourgeois, M (2014) Memory & Communication Aids for People with Dementia

Alzheimer Society alzheimer.ca

Nova Scotia Hearing and Speech Centreswww.nshsc.nshealth.ca1-888-780-3330

Thank you toAudrey Langille and her daughter, Linda Churchill,

for sharing their Life History book.