An acquaintance told me that her mother had been so worried during her first time in a care home. The contact person tried to get to know her and concluded that her anxiety often stemmed from the fear that the food would not be enough when her relatives came home. The staff therefore sat down and made shopping lists, together with her. Once she had had the opportunity to express what was needed, she became calm.

One can have ethical perspectives on employees pretending that they are going to go shopping, but for this woman, it resulted in her becoming happier and her days improving.

Reminiscence – awakening memories

In order to create well-being and awaken memories, photographs of relatives and from various occasions can be beneficial, as can access to music and other things the elderly person enjoys. For many, songs, melodies, pieces of music have a special meaning that can awaken memories. Meaningful activities chosen by the elderly person contribute to good health and slow memory decline. Similarly, objects and pictures from a bygone era can stimulate thought processes.

Song and music can even get those who have stopped talking to suddenly come alive and sing along. It can even bring a person back to the present for a moment. A well-established connection with relatives is invaluable in all elder care. Of course, assuming they want contact. There are cases where residents have no family, but they may have a good friend or someone else who is significant, who can act as a representative and be involved in the care. Engaged and knowledgeable staff can harness the power in working with memories. The purpose of reminiscence is not training, but to stimulate the desire to communicate. Memory boxes, objects from the past and the maintenance of traditions can also contribute to awakening memories and thus be a basis for conversation.

The life story

A story is told about a man who mostly walked around muttering. The staff had a very hard time reaching out and making contact with him. However, during a holiday celebration, he seemed to bloom. The staff set up long tables and the man became engaged in setting the table and realized from his clothes that he now had to change. He then acted as a very good host. He toasted with everyone and told stories and gave polite compliments to the ladies. It later emerged that he had held leading positions and often hosted various fine dinners.

Every person has the right to be at the center of their own life. We are shaped by the life we have lived and the experiences we have had throughout life. The life story facilitates getting to know an elderly person when dementia begins to make its mark in everyday life. As healthcare professionals, we can benefit from the life story as a basis for conversation and to get to know the person who is dependent on our care. There are methods, templates and forms to support employees and relatives.

Relatives may feel the need for the life story intuitively. They put up pictures from their shared life by the bed. It helps the staff who care to see the resident as a person who has lived an active life and can be a basis for conversation. A mapping of what interested the resident earlier in life provides a good foundation. Interests can be books, forest walks, scientific magazines, dancing or something completely different. Some have not had any general interests but spent their free time watching television. For someone, appearance with makeup, hair and exercise is the most important thing in life. Unpainted nails can take away much of the joy of life.

Many of our elderly can tell about themselves, even those who have been affected by dementia. They can express their own will, their personality and tell what they like. By listening, employees can identify the resident's opportunities and resources. The life story should be recorded as soon as possible in connection with moving in. It is best if the work to create the life story has started even before the need for a care home has arisen.

Every person's story is unique. No one else has lived the same life, had the same experiences and impressions or the same thoughts and feelings, in relation to different events in life. It is not enough to have a few short lines about loved ones and to ask short questions. Make the moving-in conversation a deeper conversation. Try to get a detailed picture of life as a child and adult. Many can tell about school, friends, loneliness, sorrows and joy about crafts, about cars, motorcycles, music, dreams and wishes. Relatives can often contribute a lot of information.

The life story can be seen as a tool for us as staff. A tool that helps us to get to know and better understand a person through their past. It gives us knowledge about what is or has been important to the individual, even if parts of it are no longer as relevant. It helps us to get a better picture of the person behind the disease that we need to know and understand in order to help. Thus, it becomes a basis for the care and nursing that is carried out.

The recorded life story can look different and contain different tasks. The basis of a life story, however, is that it deals with significant events and people during different periods of life, such as childhood, adult life and old age. It also brings up various personal characteristics and habits, both things that have brought joy and well-being and events that have created sorrow and pain. The life story can be supplemented afterwards with more events and preferably with dated photographs.

By having good knowledge of the life story of the person with dementia, we as staff can better support and comfort when memory fails and everyday life no longer works. In a professional approach, it's about being able to confirm the memories the person experiences, instead of correcting and pointing out inaccuracies. With a good knowledge of the person behind the disease, it is often possible to listen and talk about what has been, guiding the person with dementia correctly through memories. By building relationships and laying a foundation for continued cooperation with residents and relatives, life can be really good for the resident.
For those who want to learn more about the life story, www.bpsd.se/livsberattelsen is recommended.

Template for life story

Many municipalities and healthcare companies have suggestions for templates for life stories, life story or what the Dementia Association calls it "My Life History". There are also companies that offer digital life stories.

Reflection - awakening memories with life stories
Care staff:
• Do you use the resident's life history and memories to create contact and comfort?
• Do you use song and music to start conversations?
• Have you developed a common working method with the life story?

Manager, nurse, occupational therapist and physiotherapist:
• Do you have a good structure where you help each other to capture the life story?
• Is there material to work with reminiscence?
• How do you connect the life story with the moving-in conversation, medical conversation with residents, relatives and doctors in order for the care in the health plan to be person-centered?

Residents and relatives:
• Have you been able to participate and tell your relative's life story?
• Have the staff shown interest in who your relative has been in their previous life?

Erland Olsson
Specialist nurse
Sofrosyne - Better care every day