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Life story work? What and how

What is Life Story work?

Life story work involves helping people to record aspects of their past and present lives along with future hopes and wishes.

There is no single definition of life story work and there are many different approaches, for example, it does not need to be done in chronological order or even with any sort of system, it just needs to engage the person and be an enjoyable experience, so go with the flow and let the person talk about any aspect of their life that they want to.

Everybody has a life story. They are rich and varied and can be used to communicate who we are to the people around us. People with dementia sometimes need help to communicate their histories and identities, and it has been suggested that life story work could present a way for them to do this more easily.

So, who does this work?

When some people talk about life story work they mean something that is led by the person with dementia, to reinforce a sense of identity and support pride in the life they have led. However, when service providers (like care homes and hospitals) say they are doing life story work, this is often led by a member of staff or family carer using a template and the aim is to aid communication and increase staff understanding about the person, so the answer is it can be the patient themselves, family or friends, carers or even wider as a service.

It is encouraged to involve the person with dementia in the process as much as you can, or as much as they want as it needs to be reflective of them as a person.

What does a life story look like?

Each life story work will be as unique as the person it is about. It can often be a book or folder, include music, film and multi-media clips such as video or audio recordings, a memory box, collage or even in an app.

Take breaks and complete the story at the person’s own pace; it might take days, weeks or months, and you can keep coming back to it to add new information. Reflecting on our lives can be emotional, so be cautious and approach the activity with sensitivity.

If someone finds it difficult to communicate their life story, other family members and friends may be able to provide key information but bear in mind that there may be information about the person’s life that you don’t know about in detail. You can also try to prompt them, for example by showing them photos or videos or playing familiar music to help them reminisce.

What should a life story include?

Although there are no rules as to what can be included it is best to consider what is most meaningful to that person and consider think carefully about what information the person would want to share and when it may or may not be appropriate to do so.

Try not to bombard the person with too many specific questions. It may be easier to ask more general questions or open up a conversation about a topic and let them direct the course it takes.

You may wish to include:

the person’s profile and basic information: name, date of birth, age, where they live etc
significant relationships with family, friends, colleagues and pets
their first language and other languages spoken
religious, spiritual or cultural beliefs and routines
their sexuality/sexual and gender preferences
any physical or mental health conditions
details of their childhood and education
details of their working life and their achievements
important places, for example, places they have lived, places of study, holiday destinations, workplaces
important life events such as weddings, birth of children or grandchildren, house moves, new jobs
preferences with their appearance, including what they like to wear, any religious or cultural dress, how they like to have their hair and make-up, jewellery, favourite toiletries etc
food likes and dislikes, although be aware that these can change as dementia progresses
present routines and routines from the past, even if they don’t seem important now
favourite music, TV or films
activities they enjoy or don’t enjoy, including sports and sports teams
occasions that they like to celebrate, for example, birthdays, anniversaries, religious festivals
values
general likes and dislikes

Some memories may make the person think about unhappy times and create a sense of loss or cause distress. It may not be helpful to revisit these with the person with dementia, but this information can help their family, friends and carers identify if changes in behaviour are linked to memories of a specific event. You may wish to keep this separate from the main life story.

Why should we do life story work?

It helps people with dementia share who they are and convey important information about themselves and the things that matter to them.
It enhances the person’s sense of identity and give their life meaning.
It encourages reminiscence, which can help them retrieve past memories.
It can bring a sense of enjoyment and contentment through thinking about happy times and the things that bring them pleasure.
It can maintain the bonds between family members through sharing their stories.
Carers, care home staff, and health and social care professionals can gain a better understanding of the person’s life which in turn can lead to better care, meaningful conversations and activities.
It can make the person with Dementia feel valued and respected.
Even if the person with dementia has significant memory loss, a life story is a reminder that they are still the person they used to be, and it can help others see the person behind their dementia.
The process of collecting life story information enables staff to connect and build relationships with people with dementia and their families. However, in order to have wider benefits it is also important to produce something that can be used and enjoyed by others.