If you are seeking excellent activities and curriculum for memory care, LifeBio provides a methodology for people to reminisce using the MemoryBio system (either on the web or via the "MemoryBio Photo Album"). Answers to questions and comments made are recorded in the MemoryBio Journal which can document one person's answers or a group of people's answers.
The Storyboards are excellent for creating a visual display of someone's life. The Story Cards are ideal for families who come to visit and need a STRUCTURE for visiting.
For organizations with access to technology via an Ipad or PCs or laptops, LifeBio's online system makes it easy for activities staff to create biographies with even 10 or 20 questions. No cutting or pasting or scrapbooking required...as LifeBio instantly creates finished, ready to print PDFs with stories, memories, and pictures.
info@lifebio.com or 937-303-4576
Thursday, March 01, 2012
This is my life
Creating memory books for people with or without memory loss is a wonderful thing in retirement communities or in health care settings. We like the fact that EVERYONE can be part of LifeBio from independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, or memory care. With or without memory loss, everyone has a story to tell.
LifeBio automates the process with an online system that generates instant biographies....just be answering even 10 or 20 questions. It looks professional and it is simple to do--family, volunteers, staff can visit one-on-one or a resident can do it on their own with a PC or Ipad accessing the web.
Also, LifeBio also offers MemoryBio--a perfect way for gathering the stories of people with memory loss -- and pictures and discussion starters are available online or in physical materials too. In fact, the Mayo Clinic uses LifeBio's tools for their early-stage Alzheimer's program.
LifeBio's new Life Story Guide provides the perfect way for volunteers to be involved with people in assisted living. LifeBio 101 classes are a great way for groups in independent living to work on their biographies together -- and watch the new relationships unfold.
For more information, please call 937-303-4576 or email info@lifebio.com http://www.lifebio.com./Communities.htm
LifeBio automates the process with an online system that generates instant biographies....just be answering even 10 or 20 questions. It looks professional and it is simple to do--family, volunteers, staff can visit one-on-one or a resident can do it on their own with a PC or Ipad accessing the web.
Also, LifeBio also offers MemoryBio--a perfect way for gathering the stories of people with memory loss -- and pictures and discussion starters are available online or in physical materials too. In fact, the Mayo Clinic uses LifeBio's tools for their early-stage Alzheimer's program.
LifeBio's new Life Story Guide provides the perfect way for volunteers to be involved with people in assisted living. LifeBio 101 classes are a great way for groups in independent living to work on their biographies together -- and watch the new relationships unfold.
For more information, please call 937-303-4576 or email info@lifebio.com http://www.lifebio.com./Communities.htm
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
How do I tell my grandma's life story?
That's the question I asked myself. I started by asking my mother about the stories that my grandmother always shared so I could start my interview off in a good way. I asked about her childhood and heard about the first time she tasted a new thing called Jello and the first time she saw an airplane. She told me about HER grandmother and her parents. I felt a new connection with these older generations in my family--we had a love of education and our faith in common. Grandma shared details about the work she did in her life and the things she learned through the years. What really happened was that my grandma became a WHOLE person that day--she was a lot like me...just older. It was an eye-opening experience and I would recommend that anyone consider interviewing your grandmother or another older loved one. You just don't know what you don't know.
Need help with the process and the right biography questions to ask? www.lifebio.com
Need help with the process and the right biography questions to ask? www.lifebio.com
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Biography template on the web
Have you been saying to yourself, "How do I write my biography?" Here's some ideas to get you started.
1) Talk about the people. The people who shaped your life are going to be an important part of your story. Parents, grandparents, siblings, close aunts and uncles....these are people worth writing about.
2) Childhood memories are worth recording. Your best friend, your favorite climbing tree, your school experiences, and your favorite TV shows. All details that need to be captured....and you'll be surprised at how the process opens a door to more memories. Explore all your senses.
3) History has really touched your life. No matter your age, there has been political events, wars, life-changing experiences, wonderful accomplishments in technology, and much more that have shaped history and your own life. These need to be documented in your personal history (you're becoming your own personal historian!)--better than a history book.
4) The real world of adulthood needs to be captured. Love, marriage, children, grandchildren, pets, volunteerism, your favorite charities, and more. What makes your grown up life great? This is something that also deserves to be in your biography or the biography of a loved one.
5) Bring it all together -- Be sure your values, beliefs, life lessons, and more are there for your family and friends to read today and in the future. Genealogy is great, but the essence of who you are needs to be recorded. You and the people who came before you are worth remembering.
http://www.lifebio.com is a great resource if you need some help with a guided biography method.
1) Talk about the people. The people who shaped your life are going to be an important part of your story. Parents, grandparents, siblings, close aunts and uncles....these are people worth writing about.
2) Childhood memories are worth recording. Your best friend, your favorite climbing tree, your school experiences, and your favorite TV shows. All details that need to be captured....and you'll be surprised at how the process opens a door to more memories. Explore all your senses.
3) History has really touched your life. No matter your age, there has been political events, wars, life-changing experiences, wonderful accomplishments in technology, and much more that have shaped history and your own life. These need to be documented in your personal history (you're becoming your own personal historian!)--better than a history book.
4) The real world of adulthood needs to be captured. Love, marriage, children, grandchildren, pets, volunteerism, your favorite charities, and more. What makes your grown up life great? This is something that also deserves to be in your biography or the biography of a loved one.
5) Bring it all together -- Be sure your values, beliefs, life lessons, and more are there for your family and friends to read today and in the future. Genealogy is great, but the essence of who you are needs to be recorded. You and the people who came before you are worth remembering.
http://www.lifebio.com is a great resource if you need some help with a guided biography method.
5 Tips for Using Reminiscence in Health Care and Hospice
Consider starting a life stories program in health care settings or hospice care for a number of reasons.
1) Reminiscence impacts all dimensions of wellness -- especially the emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and social aspects. Even the physical dimension is touched with reports of lowered pain and increased brain activity.
2) Life stories are a great way to connect volunteers with patients (or volunteers with residents in long-term care). Given the right structure, it is not hard for a volunteer to build a relationship by learning more about the person and having a great conversation about the past--even 20 questions in a Life Story Guide can be perfect or using an Ipad to record life stories online. Volunteer programs in long-term care or health care settings can be enhanced through reminiscence.
3) Families are seeking new things to talk about when they visit. Opening the door to new conversation through storytelling will be appreciated. It will take away from the boredom and loneliness and long days that can result as someone is recovering in a hospital or spending time in a rehab situation or nursing home. Story Cards provided to health care settings can be a great way for families to have a structure for visiting.
4) Life review can be a necessity for those reaching the end of life. Hospice care providers are commonly looking for simple but powerful ways to allow someone the chance to say what matters most. It is important to capture the essence of the person before it is too late. Also, there is a peace that comes from knowing that critical information will be past on to present and future generations.
5) Person-centered care and patient-centered care make it essential to know the whole person. There is nothing more person-centered or patient-centered than biography! Consider creating a Storyboard that is displayed as part of the care plan to ensure that frontline staff see the patient or resident at other stages of life. It can really improve staff empathy and also be a great training tool for new staff -- on the importance of seeing the WHOLE person.
LifeBio has over seven years of experience working with health care organizations to implement life story programs nationally and internationally. The program includes an online biography system, journals, class settings, and training for staff. If you'd like to know more about becoming a LifeBio Authorized Organization, please call 1-866-543-3246 or 937-303-4974 or email info@lifebio.com to request more information.
1) Reminiscence impacts all dimensions of wellness -- especially the emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and social aspects. Even the physical dimension is touched with reports of lowered pain and increased brain activity.
2) Life stories are a great way to connect volunteers with patients (or volunteers with residents in long-term care). Given the right structure, it is not hard for a volunteer to build a relationship by learning more about the person and having a great conversation about the past--even 20 questions in a Life Story Guide can be perfect or using an Ipad to record life stories online. Volunteer programs in long-term care or health care settings can be enhanced through reminiscence.
3) Families are seeking new things to talk about when they visit. Opening the door to new conversation through storytelling will be appreciated. It will take away from the boredom and loneliness and long days that can result as someone is recovering in a hospital or spending time in a rehab situation or nursing home. Story Cards provided to health care settings can be a great way for families to have a structure for visiting.
4) Life review can be a necessity for those reaching the end of life. Hospice care providers are commonly looking for simple but powerful ways to allow someone the chance to say what matters most. It is important to capture the essence of the person before it is too late. Also, there is a peace that comes from knowing that critical information will be past on to present and future generations.
5) Person-centered care and patient-centered care make it essential to know the whole person. There is nothing more person-centered or patient-centered than biography! Consider creating a Storyboard that is displayed as part of the care plan to ensure that frontline staff see the patient or resident at other stages of life. It can really improve staff empathy and also be a great training tool for new staff -- on the importance of seeing the WHOLE person.
LifeBio has over seven years of experience working with health care organizations to implement life story programs nationally and internationally. The program includes an online biography system, journals, class settings, and training for staff. If you'd like to know more about becoming a LifeBio Authorized Organization, please call 1-866-543-3246 or 937-303-4974 or email info@lifebio.com to request more information.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
How do I interview my parents or grandparents? Good question.
1. Don't delay and don't talk yourself out of it. It's time to capture grandma, grandpa, your mother, or father in print, on video, via audio, or writing via the web. Grandma's life story or grandpa's life story is far more interesting than you can ever imagine. Really and truly, your own grandparents can tell you things that no one else can share.
2. Find the story behind their pictures. A great place to start is to review an old photo album together. Record what they say about a few of their favorite pictures. You aren't going to have time to get the story behind every picture, but you can get a few of your mother's favorite memories or grandpa's favorite memories through pictures. Pick the ones that are really funny or the ones where their eyes light up as they tell the tale. A picture is worth 1,000 words.
3. Structure is good. You will probably be glad you did your homework and you know what you want to ask when you meet with your parent or grandparent. You can always ask questions over the phone or email that tech-savvy grandparent with your questions. LifeBio's structure for example would have you ask about people in their lives, childhood memories and historical events, the real world of adulthood, and end with values, beliefs, life lessons, and more. You can gain access to the online biography template by clicking here.
4. Pick a quiet place for an interview. If your planning to use a video camera, you'll want to pick a quiet spot free of distractions for interviewing your parents or grandparents. If you are interviewing grandpa and the phone rings or someone walks in the room, it just takes away from the video. Post a sign on the door--do not disturb. Test your equipment and test the spot where you are recording. You want the video to show up well with the lighting in the room. LifeBio's Memory Journal and our Guide to Interviewing and Recording could help you know what to ask and how to conduct the interview.
5. Smile a lot and speak up. Your father, your mother, your grandfather, or your grandmother want to know that you are glad to be recording their stories. Also, be sure you are speaking loudly and clearly so you don't have to repeat questions. Mumbling is not a good idea when you are the interviewer. Have confidence in yourself and make sure they know how much you want these life stories told. You can help them do something important by recording grandma's life stories or grandpa's life stories for all time. This is a priceless gift to both of you--and it just might change your life!
2. Find the story behind their pictures. A great place to start is to review an old photo album together. Record what they say about a few of their favorite pictures. You aren't going to have time to get the story behind every picture, but you can get a few of your mother's favorite memories or grandpa's favorite memories through pictures. Pick the ones that are really funny or the ones where their eyes light up as they tell the tale. A picture is worth 1,000 words.
3. Structure is good. You will probably be glad you did your homework and you know what you want to ask when you meet with your parent or grandparent. You can always ask questions over the phone or email that tech-savvy grandparent with your questions. LifeBio's structure for example would have you ask about people in their lives, childhood memories and historical events, the real world of adulthood, and end with values, beliefs, life lessons, and more. You can gain access to the online biography template by clicking here.
4. Pick a quiet place for an interview. If your planning to use a video camera, you'll want to pick a quiet spot free of distractions for interviewing your parents or grandparents. If you are interviewing grandpa and the phone rings or someone walks in the room, it just takes away from the video. Post a sign on the door--do not disturb. Test your equipment and test the spot where you are recording. You want the video to show up well with the lighting in the room. LifeBio's Memory Journal and our Guide to Interviewing and Recording could help you know what to ask and how to conduct the interview.
5. Smile a lot and speak up. Your father, your mother, your grandfather, or your grandmother want to know that you are glad to be recording their stories. Also, be sure you are speaking loudly and clearly so you don't have to repeat questions. Mumbling is not a good idea when you are the interviewer. Have confidence in yourself and make sure they know how much you want these life stories told. You can help them do something important by recording grandma's life stories or grandpa's life stories for all time. This is a priceless gift to both of you--and it just might change your life!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
5 tips for writing an autobiography
Here's some great ways to get started with writing your autobiography or even writing a biography of a loved one.
1) Talk about the people. The people who shaped your life are going to be an important part of your story. Parents, grandparents, siblings, close aunts and uncles....these are people worth writing about.
2) Childhood memories are worth recording. Your best friend, your favorite climbing tree, your school experiences, and your favorite TV shows. All details that need to be captured....and you'll be surprised at how the process opens a door to more memories. Explore all your senses.
3) History has really touched your life. No matter your age, there has been political events, wars, life-changing experiences, wonderful accomplishments in technology, and much more that have shaped history and your own life. These need to be documented in your personal history (you're becoming your own personal historian!)--better than a history book.
4) The real world of adulthood needs to be captured. Love, marriage, children, grandchildren, pets, volunteerism, your favorite charities, and more. What makes your grown up life great? This is something that also deserves to be in your biography or the biography of a loved one.
5) Bring it all together -- Be sure your values, beliefs, life lessons, and more are there for your family and friends to read today and in the future. Genealogy is great, but the essence of who you are needs to be recorded. You and the people who came before you are worth remembering.
http://www.lifebio.com is a great resource if you need some help with a guided biography method.
1) Talk about the people. The people who shaped your life are going to be an important part of your story. Parents, grandparents, siblings, close aunts and uncles....these are people worth writing about.
2) Childhood memories are worth recording. Your best friend, your favorite climbing tree, your school experiences, and your favorite TV shows. All details that need to be captured....and you'll be surprised at how the process opens a door to more memories. Explore all your senses.
3) History has really touched your life. No matter your age, there has been political events, wars, life-changing experiences, wonderful accomplishments in technology, and much more that have shaped history and your own life. These need to be documented in your personal history (you're becoming your own personal historian!)--better than a history book.
4) The real world of adulthood needs to be captured. Love, marriage, children, grandchildren, pets, volunteerism, your favorite charities, and more. What makes your grown up life great? This is something that also deserves to be in your biography or the biography of a loved one.
5) Bring it all together -- Be sure your values, beliefs, life lessons, and more are there for your family and friends to read today and in the future. Genealogy is great, but the essence of who you are needs to be recorded. You and the people who came before you are worth remembering.
http://www.lifebio.com is a great resource if you need some help with a guided biography method.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
If I die app for Facebook
At LifeBio, we know people aren't sure where to start. What should that last message look like and say? We're not surprised to see the concept of an ethical will make its way into Facebook with the If I Die app. You can record a video or a message that will be played after your gone.
But a short video message is just the beginning if you're going to share what matters most. That's why LifeBio.com is here to capture life through and through. Asking the right questions so people can create a complete and lasting record. Preserving relationships to last for generations.....and focused on LIFE not death.
LifeBio is also a great gift for birthdays, holidays, or when someone is facing a life-threatening illness.
But a short video message is just the beginning if you're going to share what matters most. That's why LifeBio.com is here to capture life through and through. Asking the right questions so people can create a complete and lasting record. Preserving relationships to last for generations.....and focused on LIFE not death.
LifeBio is also a great gift for birthdays, holidays, or when someone is facing a life-threatening illness.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Christmas memories worth capturing
It was 1977 in Erie, Pennsylvania. I was eight years old, and I was looking forward to many things that Christmas.
Every morning my sister, brother, and I would bound down the green-shag carpeted stairs to untie a Tootsie Roll from each of our Countdown to Christmas charts. There was always the temptation to eat tomorrow’s piece of candy too, but we somehow resisted. My littlest brother had just been born that September so he wasn’t counting down with candy yet.
That Christmas there was SO much snow. Drifts as high as the top of our garage door! Piles and piles of plowed snow along Loveland Ave! Perfect conditions for snow forts, snowball fights, snow tunnels, and snow men. Dad had a snowmobile back then, and he would take us out to the “dirt hill” as we named it (an undeveloped piece of land between our street and the trailer park), and he would take us for a ride up and down the hills and even wipe out on purpose on occasion! The dirt hill had great sled riding too, and it was all about how FAR you could go on your sled—typically sledding head first, belly down was the very best position. If the neighborhood boys had given out trophies, I think I would have made at least the top 3.
Regarding my Christmas wish list, I had taken great care to circle my favorite things in the Sears catalog, the JC Penneys catalog, and I had written down a few extras from commercials on our four TV channels—Barbie stuff, LiteBrites, and the game of Operation were all the rage!
To be honest, I knew that many of the items in the catalogs I probably wouldn’t get, but it was still fun to dream about what I wished I could have anyway. Dad worked two and sometimes three jobs, but it was still hard to keep up with all the expenses our growing family had. I knew I’d get a new homemade nightgown from Grandma and a new handknitted pair of slippers from Aunt Pearl, but, other than that, Christmas morning would be a complete surprise.
The countdown to Christmas continued and soon it was the night before Christmas. We rolled out the sour cream cutout cookies, decorated them with icing and sprinkles, and sampled a few reindeers with broken legs. Mom made her delicious homemade bread too. We headed to Asbury Church that night and sang in the Junior Choir in our red robes, surrounded by poinsettias and candles. It was beautiful! Then it was home to bed and lights out so Santa had time to visit our house on Loveland Ave. I always wanted him to land his team of deer on our front porch, but he never did. He must have always used the roof.
Christmas morning 1977 finally came. Under the tree, each child had a gift marked Open Me First. My sister and brother had BIG gifts with that label on them. Mine was very small and I was so disappointed. I tried to hide it, but mom knew what I was thinking. She said with a big smile, “Beth, sometimes big things come in small packages!” Well, I knew it wasn’t a Lite Brite….so I wondered what kind of Christmas this was going to be. Getting ready to pout, I ripped off the paper and saw a yellow Kodak box. My eyes lit up as I got my first camera for Christmas! What an incredible gift for me. Even at age eight, I cared about capturing memories. I wrote things in journals. I made my own pinhole camera from the National Geographic magazine. I cherished my picture album, and now I had my own, easy-to-use camera! What a great gift it was! Luckily for my baby brother, I was immediately a shutterbug. Without that camera, there would have been very few pictures of that cute, red-headed baby boy.
Mom was right. Sometimes big things do come in small packages. Oh…so many fond memories from Loveland Avenue. I’m glad I had that camera to capture them.
Copyright 2011 LifeBio, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
What is your favorite memory of Christmas?
What was the best gift you ever received and why?
Every morning my sister, brother, and I would bound down the green-shag carpeted stairs to untie a Tootsie Roll from each of our Countdown to Christmas charts. There was always the temptation to eat tomorrow’s piece of candy too, but we somehow resisted. My littlest brother had just been born that September so he wasn’t counting down with candy yet.
That Christmas there was SO much snow. Drifts as high as the top of our garage door! Piles and piles of plowed snow along Loveland Ave! Perfect conditions for snow forts, snowball fights, snow tunnels, and snow men. Dad had a snowmobile back then, and he would take us out to the “dirt hill” as we named it (an undeveloped piece of land between our street and the trailer park), and he would take us for a ride up and down the hills and even wipe out on purpose on occasion! The dirt hill had great sled riding too, and it was all about how FAR you could go on your sled—typically sledding head first, belly down was the very best position. If the neighborhood boys had given out trophies, I think I would have made at least the top 3.
Regarding my Christmas wish list, I had taken great care to circle my favorite things in the Sears catalog, the JC Penneys catalog, and I had written down a few extras from commercials on our four TV channels—Barbie stuff, LiteBrites, and the game of Operation were all the rage!
To be honest, I knew that many of the items in the catalogs I probably wouldn’t get, but it was still fun to dream about what I wished I could have anyway. Dad worked two and sometimes three jobs, but it was still hard to keep up with all the expenses our growing family had. I knew I’d get a new homemade nightgown from Grandma and a new handknitted pair of slippers from Aunt Pearl, but, other than that, Christmas morning would be a complete surprise.
The countdown to Christmas continued and soon it was the night before Christmas. We rolled out the sour cream cutout cookies, decorated them with icing and sprinkles, and sampled a few reindeers with broken legs. Mom made her delicious homemade bread too. We headed to Asbury Church that night and sang in the Junior Choir in our red robes, surrounded by poinsettias and candles. It was beautiful! Then it was home to bed and lights out so Santa had time to visit our house on Loveland Ave. I always wanted him to land his team of deer on our front porch, but he never did. He must have always used the roof.
Christmas morning 1977 finally came. Under the tree, each child had a gift marked Open Me First. My sister and brother had BIG gifts with that label on them. Mine was very small and I was so disappointed. I tried to hide it, but mom knew what I was thinking. She said with a big smile, “Beth, sometimes big things come in small packages!” Well, I knew it wasn’t a Lite Brite….so I wondered what kind of Christmas this was going to be. Getting ready to pout, I ripped off the paper and saw a yellow Kodak box. My eyes lit up as I got my first camera for Christmas! What an incredible gift for me. Even at age eight, I cared about capturing memories. I wrote things in journals. I made my own pinhole camera from the National Geographic magazine. I cherished my picture album, and now I had my own, easy-to-use camera! What a great gift it was! Luckily for my baby brother, I was immediately a shutterbug. Without that camera, there would have been very few pictures of that cute, red-headed baby boy.
Mom was right. Sometimes big things do come in small packages. Oh…so many fond memories from Loveland Avenue. I’m glad I had that camera to capture them.
Copyright 2011 LifeBio, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
What is your favorite memory of Christmas?
What was the best gift you ever received and why?
Wednesday, December 07, 2011
Remembering Pearl Harbor
Speech by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in his Address to the Nation
"Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, Members of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives:
Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 -- a date which will live in infamy -- the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan...."Read More....
Pearl Harbor attack remembered 70 years later
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