IISES International Academic Conference, Copenhagen

THE BOOK OF MY LIFE STORY: A WAY TO CREATE CONNECTIONS FOR RESIDENTS IN A BRITISH RESIDENTIAL HOME

DALIA STANIULEVICIENE, ROY VASSELL

Abstract:

The Book of My Life Story is a good way to make connections for the residents. It helps them to understand about their life style, hobbies, and professional experience. Memories about their past also help them to adapt in a residential home. Though the reminiscences day by day become greyer and some of them disappear, opening the Books of My Life Story, residents may remember what makes feel them more fulfilled and happier. Some memories may be sad, but that is also part of their life and helps them to go forward. The Book of My Life Story is a symbolic bridge to the residents’ hearts and minds. While talking with the carers and residents’ families they agreed that the Book of My Life Story is a very positive thing, encouraging connections with the ones they care about. The results of the qualitative research show that each part of the book is very important. The results stress that such records about their life before coming to the residential home, as well as the records about everyday life in the residential home, are useful for finding ways to communicate and cooperate with the residents. Talking about the Book of My Life Story, positive emotions were stressed more often than negative ones. This means that this book is very useful in everyday life, trying to see the full picture of residents’ lives. This helps carers to work in a person-centred way and to give the best services to the residents.

Keywords: dementia, memories, my life story, person - centred care, residential home