Memory books are such an easy way to create something personal and meaningful for your Residents. And when we say ‘memory book’, we’re essentially talking about a scrapbook filled with things that are meaningful to your Resident.
Typically in Memory Care, these can be used in 2 main ways. The first being a traditional scrapbook of past memories and events to reminisce on good times. The second being a way to remember current information, such as the names of each member of the family, the current place of residence, and even the current daily routine.
Over the years, I’ve seen some families create their own books to bring in, I’ve had families work with therapists during sessions to create them with the Resident, and I’ve also had families simply drop off photos of family and friends that I can use to make a book with my Resident during a session.
What You’ll Need
- plain, un-patterned scrapbook paper
- 4×6 or 5×7 photographs of people and places that are meaningful to the Resident
- markers, plain white paper, or a label maker
- glue sticks
- laminate sheets
- scrapbook or binder
Best Ways to Assemble
- Keep a Single Photo and Label per page; keeping each page as simple as possible will help to maximize awareness and understanding of the contents of each page
- Use Photos that are as Up-to-Date as Possible; this will maximize relation and association skills to help Residents identify individuals as ‘safe’
- Label Each Portrait with the Individual’s Name and Title (ie. “Allison, my daughter”), and each Photo with the Name of the Place or Event and the Date the Photo was Taken
These are a few examples of what the pages generally should look like.
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