Saturday, February 28, 2009
What to look for in a Memory Book
You may be interested in a memory book for your mother, father, grandmother, or grandfather. Not all memory books are created equal. Here is what to look for in a memory book or "memory journal" for your parents or grandparents.
1) How are the questions organized? Does it provide a clear structure to allow your loved one to cover all the major events of life? Does it make it easy for them to describe people that shaped their lives, memories from growing up, adulthood, and beliefs and values? These are all critical to building a complete life story. Memory books should offer many topics that may not be obvious. For example, topics like pets, volunteerism and philanthropy, friendship, and lessons through the years are all parts of life that can be written about.
2) Will the memory book evoke the kinds of things you as children or grandchildren really want to know? In other words, do the questions get to the core of WHO your mom or dad really is and inspire them to reminisce more? Will the autobiography questions go deep enough? For example, some memory books might only provide two or three questions about your mother's parents, while the Memory Journal has fourteen questions on the topic of "Mother" alone.
3) Is the memory book asking positive or neutral questions? A memory book's questions should not be leading a person to answer in a negative way (although they can always choose how they will answer a question). For example, one memory book asked the question, "Did your mother hug you enough as a child?" Not a very good question to ask. Even if your mother hugged you plenty, you start to ask yourself, "Did she hug me enough?" Instead, the Memory Journal asks you to... "Describe your mother to someone who has never met her." The tone of questions is positive or neutral.
4) Is there a next step? Can the memory book become something more? Families are typically interested in having a copy of a parent's or grandparent's memory book. Although the pages can always be copied and simply stapled or bound together, there are other ways to bring the story to a final form. The Memory Journal questions match those found at LifeBio.com so you can easily transfer information from the journal to the web. A leather, hardcover book can then be made from the person's story and distributed to family and friends.
We hope you enjoy hearing the stories and memories of your loved one. A memory book will bring out many things that don't come up in typical conversation. If you have the time, it is wonderful to ask the questions over the phone especially if you live faraway from your mother or father. Don't miss out on the amazing things your older relatives have to share.
1) How are the questions organized? Does it provide a clear structure to allow your loved one to cover all the major events of life? Does it make it easy for them to describe people that shaped their lives, memories from growing up, adulthood, and beliefs and values? These are all critical to building a complete life story. Memory books should offer many topics that may not be obvious. For example, topics like pets, volunteerism and philanthropy, friendship, and lessons through the years are all parts of life that can be written about.
2) Will the memory book evoke the kinds of things you as children or grandchildren really want to know? In other words, do the questions get to the core of WHO your mom or dad really is and inspire them to reminisce more? Will the autobiography questions go deep enough? For example, some memory books might only provide two or three questions about your mother's parents, while the Memory Journal has fourteen questions on the topic of "Mother" alone.
3) Is the memory book asking positive or neutral questions? A memory book's questions should not be leading a person to answer in a negative way (although they can always choose how they will answer a question). For example, one memory book asked the question, "Did your mother hug you enough as a child?" Not a very good question to ask. Even if your mother hugged you plenty, you start to ask yourself, "Did she hug me enough?" Instead, the Memory Journal asks you to... "Describe your mother to someone who has never met her." The tone of questions is positive or neutral.
4) Is there a next step? Can the memory book become something more? Families are typically interested in having a copy of a parent's or grandparent's memory book. Although the pages can always be copied and simply stapled or bound together, there are other ways to bring the story to a final form. The Memory Journal questions match those found at LifeBio.com so you can easily transfer information from the journal to the web. A leather, hardcover book can then be made from the person's story and distributed to family and friends.
We hope you enjoy hearing the stories and memories of your loved one. A memory book will bring out many things that don't come up in typical conversation. If you have the time, it is wonderful to ask the questions over the phone especially if you live faraway from your mother or father. Don't miss out on the amazing things your older relatives have to share.
Labels: memory book, memory journal, reminiscence, writing an autobiography, writing your life story
Friday, February 27, 2009
MemoryBio unlocks the life stories of those with memory loss
MemoryBio, a picture-based reminiscence and journaling program for people who have Alzheimer’s Disease, dementia and mild cognitive impairment, will be officially released by www.LifeBio.com at the American Society on Aging Conference in Las Vegas, Nev., in March 15-19.
MemoryBio helps family and friends communicate with loved ones who are dealing with memory loss. The 200-page MemoryBio Photo Album provides a variety of 35 different life themes through pictures. Themes such as “Travel & Vacations” or “Cooking, Baking, & Canning” or “Jobs & Careers” are explored. The pictures and carefully-crafted questions help begin conversations—perfect for family visits or small groups.
The accompanying MemoryBio Journal allows family, staff, or volunteers to write down comments shared by the elder with memory loss as they look through the photo album together. In addition, objects and ideas are suggested in MemoryBio bringing the curriculum alive in daily life and impacting all the senses.
Christine Fenn, Vice President of VibrantLiving, a senior living community in Downers Grove, Illinois, finds great value in MemoryBio’s programming. “We value people and we know their memories and experiences and we know that capturing them will only help us deliver even better service and care. That’s why we now use MemoryBio for our memory care programming. It gives the entire staff and residents something new and different to talk about every day.”
Reminiscence allows seniors to take a trip to “pleasanter” days and lowers depression. In turn, families enjoy seeing their loved ones engaged and visiting with others.
“People with memory loss crave eye-to-eye, face-to-face, hand-to-hand communication. That’s what MemoryBio delivers. It’s a genuine and meaningful way to start an interesting conversation together through pictures and appropriate questions for people facing memory loss. Frankly, there just needs to be a move away from the same old talk about food, health, and the weather and that’s where MemoryBio can be a big help,” said Beth Sanders, founder & CEO of LifeBio.
About LifeBio
LifeBio provides innovative ways to capture life stories, preserving relationships to last for generations. LifeBio’s memory and reminiscence products and services are used by senior living communities, churches, schools, and by consumers. For more information, visit http://www.lifebio.com or call 1-866-543-3246.
MemoryBio helps family and friends communicate with loved ones who are dealing with memory loss. The 200-page MemoryBio Photo Album provides a variety of 35 different life themes through pictures. Themes such as “Travel & Vacations” or “Cooking, Baking, & Canning” or “Jobs & Careers” are explored. The pictures and carefully-crafted questions help begin conversations—perfect for family visits or small groups.
The accompanying MemoryBio Journal allows family, staff, or volunteers to write down comments shared by the elder with memory loss as they look through the photo album together. In addition, objects and ideas are suggested in MemoryBio bringing the curriculum alive in daily life and impacting all the senses.
Christine Fenn, Vice President of VibrantLiving, a senior living community in Downers Grove, Illinois, finds great value in MemoryBio’s programming. “We value people and we know their memories and experiences and we know that capturing them will only help us deliver even better service and care. That’s why we now use MemoryBio for our memory care programming. It gives the entire staff and residents something new and different to talk about every day.”
Reminiscence allows seniors to take a trip to “pleasanter” days and lowers depression. In turn, families enjoy seeing their loved ones engaged and visiting with others.
“People with memory loss crave eye-to-eye, face-to-face, hand-to-hand communication. That’s what MemoryBio delivers. It’s a genuine and meaningful way to start an interesting conversation together through pictures and appropriate questions for people facing memory loss. Frankly, there just needs to be a move away from the same old talk about food, health, and the weather and that’s where MemoryBio can be a big help,” said Beth Sanders, founder & CEO of LifeBio.
About LifeBio
LifeBio provides innovative ways to capture life stories, preserving relationships to last for generations. LifeBio’s memory and reminiscence products and services are used by senior living communities, churches, schools, and by consumers. For more information, visit http://www.lifebio.com or call 1-866-543-3246.
Labels: aging, Alzheimer's, autobiography, dementia, memory book, memory loss, writing an autobiography
