Where do I start?

When you’re really busy and have no spare time, you could:

• Ask residents questions while you work (‘what would you like to do today’? or ‘who’s in that photo?’)
• Get residents to be active while you work (put the radio on for them or help them to phone a relative)
• Get them involved in what you’re doing (sorting the post, or drawing the curtains in the living room).

Get prepared

Prepare some really simple activities that residents can enjoy without your help. That could be looking at photographs, reading a newspaper or a magazine, listening to an audio book, sitting in the garden, dusting a room or tidying. 

You could also leave objects of interest in the communal rooms (for example, a radio, an ornament or flowers) to keep the surroundings interesting. 

When you are busy doing everyday tasks, it is still possible to interact and engage with residents.

• Involve residents in what you are doing – laying a table, tidying a room, sorting the laundry.
• Stop to watch television together and talk about what you have seen.
• Help select an album, scrapbook or book to look at.
• Encourage people to brush their hair or teeth while you help them.
• Ask a person if they are comfortable. Would they like to sit in their room / with others / by the window / or in the reception area? Help them to get there.
• ‘I saw this and thought of you’. Share an article, short story or social media post.
• Support one or more people to listen to some music, the radio or watch a television programme or a film.
• Create areas of interest for people to explore, for example a library, writing desk, board games and puzzle corner or a themed reminiscence display, which can be changed on a regular basis.
• Put out different objects of interest in the communal room for people to explore each day (for example polished stones, a stress ball, reminiscence cards, old household items). Notice when people touch or look at them and make conversation (‘What does that remind you of?’).

Try some of the activities below, or extend any of the five-minute activities.

• Support one or more people to start a game of cards, board game or word game.
• Read a newspaper or magazine together. 
• Support a person to attend a group or to start an activity. For example, help them to find somewhere to sit and draw, arrange flowers, or look through a box of trinkets.
• Go for a walk together round the garden or walk over to the window to look out on the garden.
• Invite residents to drink their tea or coffee at the table rather than sitting in their chair.
• Explore an activity  bag or box together.
• Offer a hand massage, manicure or some other grooming activity.
• Support a person to keep a scrapbook or photo album – adding pictures, mementos or photos.
• Small jobs, for example: water the pots plants, restock the bird feeder, deliver the post or newspapers.
• Read out loud – a social media post, article, some page of a story.

Remember if you have set up someone to do an activity they may need help later to put everything away.
 

Activity bags and boxes are great for residents to explore on their own, or with a member of staff, volunteer or visitor. They can be themed (e.g. sensory, childhood, games, memories, beauty, word games). 

Leave them in a communal area for residents to help themselves to, or in an easily accessible place for staff or visitors to borrow when spending time with residents.

In larger homes, they can be kept on each wing/unit of the home and then rotated for variety. Being portable, they can be used by people who prefer to stay in their room, or who have limited mobility or poor health. Check them regularly (weekly) to monitor stock and make sure the objects are in good condition. 

Even residents with complex health needs or receiving end-of-life care can engage with activities. This might mean sensory activities, such as a hand massage or hair brushing, listening to music or the radio, opportunities to talk and spiritual needs. 

Here are some ideas. You could also get residents and relatives involved in creating the boxes. 

Sensory activities box

Hand cream, book of poems, different textured materials, book of song lyrics, themed scrapbooks (e.g. holiday postcards, transport), polished pebbles or wood, worry beads or charm bracelet. 

Games box 

Pack of cards, dominoes, quiz book, drafts/chess set, scrabble. 

Comfort or memory box

Work with a resident, and, if they wish, their family, to collect memories and mementoes for a personal memory box. A comfort box contains objects or activities that they find soothing and reassuring. You might turn to it if a resident appears agitated and unsettled.

Spending time getting to know each resident and their life history is really important. You’ll get to know who they are as an individual – their likes, dislikes, experiences and abilities. That means you’ll be able to support them with activities that they will enjoy and are meaningful to them. 

A person’s life history:

• Can give a rounded picture of someone’s life. This can feed into care planning, and means you can offer the care and activities that are right for each individual. 
• Can be enjoyable and stimulating. Some people can look at their book independently, while you may need to help to turn the pages for others, or point out photos. 
• Can be useful for new staff to use with people who have impaired communication. 
• Ensures care continuity if a resident has to transfer elsewhere (for example, into hospital or into another care setting). 
• Is a fun project that can involve the person, staff, relatives and visitors.
• Encourages residents to reminisce about their life. 

Recording and storing the life history 

You can record a life history using a ring binder with a card, plastic pockets and self-adhesive photo album sheets, a scrapbook, an object or rummage box, or one of the commercially available formats.

• Some folders contain personal information, which the person or relative may not want to share with others, so respect confidentiality. 
• Life history folders are only to be used with the individual and not with anyone else, unless permission has been given.
• To collect this information or to access it, you need the consent of the individual (if they are able) or a relative or advocate if the person is no longer able to give their own consent. 

For life history work 

Compiling a life history folder can be emotional, so make sure you have the privacy and time to handle it sensitively. Keep adding to it, and encourage family and friends to get involved too. It’s a great thing for residents to look at with their visitors.  

Don’t make assumptions – just because a person used to have a particular interest or hobby it does not mean they want to continue with it now. But do use life history work to link into reminiscence sessions.

For people with memory problems, reinforce memories by saying ‘It’s a photo of you and Vera on the beach at Southend’ rather than asking ‘Who is in the photo?’. They could become stressed and anxious if they can’t remember. Also, sometimes people misremember facts or events. While it’s important to be accurate, correcting someone might distress them, so try to find a balance. 
 

This list of questions will help to shape someone’s life history. It is a general list, so not all questions will apply to everyone.  

Childhood 

• What is your date of birth? 
• Where were you born? 
• What were your parents’ names? 
• What job(s) did they do? 
• Did/do you have brothers or sisters? What are their names? 
• Where did you grow up?
• Who was important to you and involved in your upbringing?

School days 

• Where did you go to school? 
• Did you enjoy it? 
• Did you wear a uniform? What colour was it? 
• What was your favourite subject? 
• What were your school friends called? 
• What were your favourite pastimes while at school? 
• When did you leave school? 
• Did you gain any qualifications? 

Family 

• Are/were you married or do/did you have a long-term partner? What is/was their name? 
• Where and when did you meet? 
• Where and when did you marry? Where did you go on honeymoon? 
• Where did you live? 
• Do you have any children? What are their names? 
• Do you have any grandchildren? What are their names? 
• Did you have any pets?

Work 

• When did you start work? 
• What type of work did you do? What did it involve? 
• Did you have any special training? 
• Where did you work? 
• Did you enjoy your work? 
• When did you retire? 

Friends 

• What are your friends’ names? 
• How do you know each other? Are you still in touch? 
• Who might come to visit?

Hobbies and interests 

• What hobbies have you enjoyed and why? Would you like to continue with any of them?
• Did you belong to any clubs or organisations? 
• Did you take up any new hobbies when you retired? 
• How much have you travelled? Where was your favourite place? 
• Do you have any favourite books, genre or authors? 
• Do you have any favourite television programmes or films? 
• What is your favourite type of music and do you have any favourite musicians? 
• What is your favourite food and favourite drink? 
• Is there anything that you definitely do not like to do? 

Are there any other major life events that you would like to include?