~Memory Books
I learned along this journey of career and life that what we instruct others to do is not always that easy to do ourselves. Professionally, I've routinely recommended the use of Memory Books for individuals with memory loss. Until recently, it was easy to simplify instructions to family members and casually reference Google as the source of "all knowing" information. However, it wasn't until I took on the task of developing one for someone I love that I realized the intricacies in completing such a task. In an attempt to be creative, my mind kept leaning towards developing a work of art. Something that would impress the family, showcase the gorgeous grandchildren, and display information in a way worthy of publication. It didn't take long though to realize that this labor of love was only meant for one person's benefit and it needed to be usable and supportive to HER needs. As a result, all of my grandiose ideas were shelved and my sole focus turned to capturing key details in a simple but dignified way.
There are many websites, resources, and organizations on the Internet that provide information on how to create Memory Books. This particular list of tips is meant to complement those resources and possibly add in key features from a cognitive/language based viewpoint. I need to emphasize that the undertaking of a Memory Book can be time consuming and often requires coordination between family members, caregivers, etc. Most importantly, it requires the developer of that book to view things from the other person's perspective. For me, the best way to describe this process is to step inside that person's mind, gather a glimpse of what they comprehend, and then infer what they would want to be able to retain and use. THAT is, no doubt, the most difficult part of the project!!
Here are the steps and tips to making a Memory Book:
1. Establish the purpose of the Memory Book. For my loved one, I made a simple book of her immediate family, pets, and close relatives. Bios of each individual were placed directly below the pictures. The book was designed to assist in recall of essential people and provide enough facts to participate in simple conversations, have a visual reference for the person on the other end of the phone, and recall special memories. Memory Books can also be designed around an event (e.g. weddings), routines, new situations (e.g., transition to assisted living), or just a unique way to capture and review anecdotal memories.
2. Purchase a "memory book," scrapbook, or narrow 3-ring binder. I purchased a "memory book" in the scrapbook section of a craft store. In addition, I bought card stock for the pages. I would recommend buying pastel colored or white card stock so that the picture/background has a clearly defined contrast. Consider visual difficulties in many of the individuals that we recommend Memory Books for and adjust accordingly. Pages should be at least letter size with plastic sleeves to protect your work. Also, avoid the temptation to buy decorative flourishes or distracting, extravagant additions on the scrapbooking aisles. Remember: we want to keep the Memory Book as simple as possible.
3. Gather pictures for your Memory Book. When using pictures of people, select simple headshots. Avoid busy backgrounds, costumes, silhouettes, silliness, indirect poses, and multiple persons. The trick is to keep the picture as simple as possible with minimal distractions. Also, use current pictures of individuals that the recipient sees on a regular basis. It's tempting to use a portrait picture or the best school picture from two years ago for example, but remember that the recipient of the Memory Book may not recognize someone based on an older picture. On the other hand, it's worth mentioning that I did use old pictures of family members no longer living (e.g., parents and siblings) because long term memory was still intact for those individuals and the older pictures were how she remembered them.
4. Once you've selected your pictures, resize them. The typical size I recommend for pictures is 5x7. This is generally a good size for someone with uncompromised visual acuity. If you have a scanner, printer, and simple photo editing program, you can easily enlarge pictures to the appropriate size, crop where needed, and print. However, for some, it might be easier to take the photos to a Kinkos, Walgreens, or other self-serve photo outlet and edit and print there. Please note though, that studio and professional portraits are copyrighted so reputable photo outlets will not allow you to reprint those pictures without consent by the photographer.
5. After your pictures are selected, it's time to develop the bios or scripts to place below the photos. For me, this was the trickiest step to the process. The most essential thing to remember is to KEEP IT SIMPLE! The bios I wrote for family members each started out with, "This is...." For example, "This is your son, Bob." From there, I added in key facts in short sentences. In addition, I typed the bios and used an eighteen or higher font to enhance visual clarity and understanding. I also used text boxes with a six-point outline to emphasize the text. For some individuals, depending on the level of memory loss and their comprehension, just listing key details in bullet form may be more appropriate. Here's an example of a bio:
"This is your son, John. He lives in Los Angeles, California. He is married to Jane. John has 3 children. John visits you every Sunday."
This is just a simple structure of a bio. Variations and complexity will be influenced by the individual's current status with respect to understanding, interests, and relevance. Also, it's important to involve others in making this book - especially the person who the book is for. Whenever appropriate, asking the recipient what details they want to recall or just what comes to mind when they are asked about a family member or caregiver gives insight into what to state in that bio.
6. Organize and affix the pictures and bios. Just a random tip: I'm not a big fan of glue sticks for long-standing adhesion. Rather, I prefer Zip Dry Paper Glue, which is found at most craft stores. Remember to consider your background color of card stock and make sure you have a nice contrast between the photograph, bio/script, and background.
7. Make a backup copy of all of your pictures and bios for future use. I saved all of my work on a disk so that I could easily recreate the Memory Book in the event that it goes missing or changes/updates need to be made.
8. Take time to educate those using the Memory Book. The best Memory Book isn't helpful if it's stored on the shelf with other family photo albums or placed in a drawer. Demonstrate to others how to facilitate proper interaction with the Memory Book. Practice using it in differing scenarios and remember that repetition is the key to the book's success. Refer to it often - keep it in sight and within reach for the recipient.
The end result of your efforts should be a Memory Book that enhances communication, understanding, recall, and most importantly, quality of life!
There are many websites, resources, and organizations on the Internet that provide information on how to create Memory Books. This particular list of tips is meant to complement those resources and possibly add in key features from a cognitive/language based viewpoint. I need to emphasize that the undertaking of a Memory Book can be time consuming and often requires coordination between family members, caregivers, etc. Most importantly, it requires the developer of that book to view things from the other person's perspective. For me, the best way to describe this process is to step inside that person's mind, gather a glimpse of what they comprehend, and then infer what they would want to be able to retain and use. THAT is, no doubt, the most difficult part of the project!!
Here are the steps and tips to making a Memory Book:
1. Establish the purpose of the Memory Book. For my loved one, I made a simple book of her immediate family, pets, and close relatives. Bios of each individual were placed directly below the pictures. The book was designed to assist in recall of essential people and provide enough facts to participate in simple conversations, have a visual reference for the person on the other end of the phone, and recall special memories. Memory Books can also be designed around an event (e.g. weddings), routines, new situations (e.g., transition to assisted living), or just a unique way to capture and review anecdotal memories.
2. Purchase a "memory book," scrapbook, or narrow 3-ring binder. I purchased a "memory book" in the scrapbook section of a craft store. In addition, I bought card stock for the pages. I would recommend buying pastel colored or white card stock so that the picture/background has a clearly defined contrast. Consider visual difficulties in many of the individuals that we recommend Memory Books for and adjust accordingly. Pages should be at least letter size with plastic sleeves to protect your work. Also, avoid the temptation to buy decorative flourishes or distracting, extravagant additions on the scrapbooking aisles. Remember: we want to keep the Memory Book as simple as possible.
3. Gather pictures for your Memory Book. When using pictures of people, select simple headshots. Avoid busy backgrounds, costumes, silhouettes, silliness, indirect poses, and multiple persons. The trick is to keep the picture as simple as possible with minimal distractions. Also, use current pictures of individuals that the recipient sees on a regular basis. It's tempting to use a portrait picture or the best school picture from two years ago for example, but remember that the recipient of the Memory Book may not recognize someone based on an older picture. On the other hand, it's worth mentioning that I did use old pictures of family members no longer living (e.g., parents and siblings) because long term memory was still intact for those individuals and the older pictures were how she remembered them.
4. Once you've selected your pictures, resize them. The typical size I recommend for pictures is 5x7. This is generally a good size for someone with uncompromised visual acuity. If you have a scanner, printer, and simple photo editing program, you can easily enlarge pictures to the appropriate size, crop where needed, and print. However, for some, it might be easier to take the photos to a Kinkos, Walgreens, or other self-serve photo outlet and edit and print there. Please note though, that studio and professional portraits are copyrighted so reputable photo outlets will not allow you to reprint those pictures without consent by the photographer.
5. After your pictures are selected, it's time to develop the bios or scripts to place below the photos. For me, this was the trickiest step to the process. The most essential thing to remember is to KEEP IT SIMPLE! The bios I wrote for family members each started out with, "This is...." For example, "This is your son, Bob." From there, I added in key facts in short sentences. In addition, I typed the bios and used an eighteen or higher font to enhance visual clarity and understanding. I also used text boxes with a six-point outline to emphasize the text. For some individuals, depending on the level of memory loss and their comprehension, just listing key details in bullet form may be more appropriate. Here's an example of a bio:
"This is your son, John. He lives in Los Angeles, California. He is married to Jane. John has 3 children. John visits you every Sunday."
This is just a simple structure of a bio. Variations and complexity will be influenced by the individual's current status with respect to understanding, interests, and relevance. Also, it's important to involve others in making this book - especially the person who the book is for. Whenever appropriate, asking the recipient what details they want to recall or just what comes to mind when they are asked about a family member or caregiver gives insight into what to state in that bio.
6. Organize and affix the pictures and bios. Just a random tip: I'm not a big fan of glue sticks for long-standing adhesion. Rather, I prefer Zip Dry Paper Glue, which is found at most craft stores. Remember to consider your background color of card stock and make sure you have a nice contrast between the photograph, bio/script, and background.
7. Make a backup copy of all of your pictures and bios for future use. I saved all of my work on a disk so that I could easily recreate the Memory Book in the event that it goes missing or changes/updates need to be made.
8. Take time to educate those using the Memory Book. The best Memory Book isn't helpful if it's stored on the shelf with other family photo albums or placed in a drawer. Demonstrate to others how to facilitate proper interaction with the Memory Book. Practice using it in differing scenarios and remember that repetition is the key to the book's success. Refer to it often - keep it in sight and within reach for the recipient.
The end result of your efforts should be a Memory Book that enhances communication, understanding, recall, and most importantly, quality of life!
