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Lee, DO — By Rachel Ann Tee-Melegrito on August 24, 2022A memory book is a collection of photos and mementos that can help people with dementia relive and recall memories. It can facilitate connection with loved ones and allow them to make sense of daily life. Dementia is a broad term that describes a group of neurological conditions that lead to a gradual loss of cognitive function. It causes a decline in one’s ability to think, remember, and reason. Memory loss is among the first symptoms seen in dementia. It typically affects short-term memory in its early stages. This involves forgetting what a person recently saw, heard, or did. Gradually, dementia leads to long-term memory loss, or the inability to recall skills and significant life events. A memory book can help preserve the memories of a person with dementia and promote communication with loved ones even as the disease progresses. This article explores memory books for people with dementia, what they are for, and how to make them. What is a memory book Share on Pinterestvasiliki/Getty ImagesA memory book is a collection of photos, letters, printouts, and other memorabilia. Each page contains an item with a short sentence describing it. The description is usually written in first person and includes the person, place, and event shown in the photo. Some may also prefer making a digital memory book. These books may go by several other names, such as:life memory bookreminiscence bookorientation book Learn more about dementia. What are the benefits for people with dementia Memory books help individuals with dementia remember their past and stimulate long-term memory. It also aids in preserving their identity and promoting a sense of well-being. Family and caregivers can also use memory books to:evoke emotions to help recall more memoriesanswer repetitive questionspromote pride, self-esteem, and validationdistract and refocus a person when they have challenging behaviors or emotions provide a sense of security when taken to unfamiliar placesact as a bridge to the pastorient them to themselves, their identity, and purposeorient them to their families and friendsfacilitate connections between people sharing and reminiscing memories offer opportunities to engage and communicate for people who are unable to use speech Learn more about the early signs of dementia here. A 2018 systematic review suggested there is value in life story books for people with dementia in that they trigger memories and improve relationships. The study also found significant improvements in:autobiographic memorymooddepressionquality of lifecommunication and quality of relationships between informal caregivers and people with dementiacaregiver knowledge and attitudes A memory book may help a person with dementia reconnect with the people around them. It also has other positive effects on the caregiver, including:increased motivation to deliver care and interactively communicateimproved mood, reduced burden, and behavior problemsa better view of the value of lifeimproved relationships among care staff and people with dementia What should be in a memory book People can include many themes and topics in memory books, from key life events to treasured family memories. Here are some suggestions for topics: Orientation and daily scheduleprevious homescurrent homedaily routine, including wake-up time, reading hours, outdoor timemedications and dosages Personal memorieskey life eventsreligious/spiritual and political memoriesfavorite foods and recipespersonality, interests, and things that make them happy Childhooddate and place of birthnames of parents and their occupation(s)immigration, changing homesnames and birth order of siblingstheir community, including major establishments or historical informationtheir school, including favorite subjects, teachers, and classmatesfond childhood memoriesholidays and special eventshow they spent their time, including hobbies, sports, church, friends Adolescencedates and “firsts”great loves and crushespeerschallenging and exciting times in school Young adulthoodcollege and work, including accomplishmentspartner, including how they met and wedding memories (if applicable)military historyfavorite music, movies, theaters, booksexperiences of starting a family, including owning a car or homevacations and travel Middle agefamily traditions and holidaysgrandchildrenhobbiespoliticscareer life, including occupations and significant career accomplishments Later yearsvolunteeringretirement lifeimportant lessons learned in lifeachievements and awards Family and friendspartner’s and children’s names, specific memories, traits, and hobbies parents’ names, particular memories, attributes, and hobbiespetssignificant relationships from church, organizations, and other groups Learn more about brain exercises to improve memory, cognition, and creativity. Getting started on the memory book When making a memory book, a person may ask the help of families and friends to gather important information and photos of them with the person with dementia. Here are some general ideas for the structure:Create a cover page with the person’s name and photo: This may help the person to identify it. You can also add emergency contact information, addresses, and phone numbers. Add a table of contents, titles, and page numbers: This can also help to structure the book.Use only one picture per page and keep the other page blank: This can help the person concentrate on the image and not become overwhelmed.Captions can help provide some context to the photos: Keep the captions objective to allow the person to make meaning of the pictures themselves. Be sure to make it short and sweet and use a font size that is large enough for the person to easily read. Materials A person should make the memory book with preservation in mind. Choose nonacidic adhesives and removable captions so family members can remove and add information to the captions once their loved ones pass on. Other materials to consider:a binder or photo album that comfortably fits in a person’s lap or on a digital devicethick pages that are easy to turnglue, tape, or other adhesivespictures of family members, friends, and petsphotos of important life events, including historical moments and milestones like birthdays, weddings, graduation, and awardsvital information to write alongside the photoshandwritten notes, small keepsakes, ribbons from awards, small keepsake items Selecting photos When creating a memory book for a loved one or client, a person should remember their condition. Extra-large photos with good contrast may help them quickly recognize the person or people in the images. It may be wise not to include photos of friends and families who have died, as this may upset them if they do not remember that the people in the pictures are no longer alive. However, if the person is aware of their passing before the book’s creation, it may be helpful to include these for sentimental purposes. Questions to ask Caregivers and loved ones may ask questions to facilitate communication, connection, and sharing. Some example questions may include:Do you have a favorite song, movie, color, or book?What is your favorite travel destination?What did you do with your first paycheck?What makes you happy?What is your favorite food?Are you more comfortable spending time alone or with a group of people?How do you enjoy spending your holiday or vacation?If you can have a do-over, what one thing will you do differently?How did you spend your time as a child?What is your favorite memory about ____?What do you want people to know about you?What do people not know about you?What advice do you have for the younger generation about:earning moneystarting a familybuilding a careercoping with challenging timeslovepoliticsreligion and spiritualityfriendshipsmarriage Learn more about how dementia progresses over time. Things to avoid Avoid “quizzing” loved ones or finishing their sentences for them. Allow them to share parts of their life story. Try not to argue, correct, or dismiss what they say. Do not ask “do you remember” while looking at the photos, as this can lead to sadness or confusion if they notice they have lost their memories. Allow them to flip through the pages and read the captions when possible. A person should wait for the reader to share or say, “I remember when we…” and go over the things that have happened. Learn more about common myths about dementia. Other activity ideas Caregivers and loved ones are not limited to memory books. There are other activity ideas to do for a person with dementia:Music playlists: This could feature the person’s favorite songs from the past for them to listen to.Memory box: A memory box is similar to a memory book, but it is a physical box that may contain trinkets, photos, and souvenirs from a person’s life to help trigger memories.Activity kits: These may involve activities that the person may enjoy, like clay, knot tying, matching and sorting, and puzzles.Sensory box: This could contain items with different materials, textures, and sizes. Learn more about the 30 best activities for someone with dementia. Finding support Family members should seek advice from a healthcare professional for the best care for their loved one with dementia. They may recommend professionals, such as physical, occupational, and speech therapists, to help retain as much of the person’s independence and abilities as possible. Loved ones may also look for in-home help or organizations, local resources, and federal services and programs offering support and assistance in caring for people with dementia. These include:Alzheimer’s AssociationAlzheimer’s Foundation of America, Lewy Body Dementia AssociationEldercare LocatorIndian Health ServiceAlzheimer’s Disease Research CentersAlzheimer’s and Related Dementias Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center Depending on the level of support they need, people may also opt for residential care and hospice services for their loved ones with dementia. Learn more about how to care for a person with dementia. Summary The memory and other skills of a person with dementia will gradually decline. Loved ones and caregivers may help stimulate their long-term memory, promote connection and engagement, and improve their mood and well-being through reminiscing their history. A memory book does not need to be an individual project. A person planning to make one may ask for help and input from other friends, family, and caregivers to develop a meaningful project for their loved one. Last medically reviewed on August 24, 2022Alzheimer's / DementiaCaregivers / HomecareSeniors / Aging 3 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Elfrink, T. R., et al. (2018). Life story books for people with dementia: A systematic review.https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/international-psychogeriatrics/article/life-story-books-for-people-with-dementia-a-systematic-review/D1FC858652BD40FC5551356474AEC368Heersmink, R. (2022). Preserving narrative identity for dementia patients: Embodiment, active environments, and distributed memory. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12152-022-09479-xMendes, A. (2016). The value of storytelling for people living with dementia [Abstract].https://www.magonlinelibrary.com/doi/abs/10.12968/nrec.2016.18.12.667FEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Susan W. Lee, DO — By Rachel Ann Tee-Melegrito on August 24, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? 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