RESOURCE PACK - FoNS

1 RESOURCE PACKTold in South Yorkshire - life story Work & People with Dementia CONTENTS1. INTRODUCTION TO THE pack 2. BACKGROUND TO life story WORK3. QUALITIES NEEDED BY THE PERSON GATHERING THE life STORY4. HOW TO GET STARTED 5. CONSIDERATIONS 6. IDEAS ON WHAT TO INCLUDE 7. EXAMPLES OF life story WORK 8. RESOURCES 9. FAQsINTRODUCTION TO THE PACKThis pack has been developedby the Told in South Yorkshire - life story Work and Peoplewith Dementia Advisory Group. This group was formed in 2011 andcomprises people with dementia, familycarers, health and social care staff andUniversity lecturers.

2 Members of the groupinvolved in the pack include: LynseyButton; Brian Fairest; Sandra Galloway;Claire Jepson; Jane McKeown; KathRimmer; Tony Ryan; Michelle piece of art work was created by peopleliving with Dementia from Grenoside GrangeHospital and Darnall Dementia Group; thishas become the logo for the Advisory Group. The idea for the pack emerged because: Although many people are enthusiastic about using life story Work, it can be difficult to get started People with dementia, family carers and health and social care staff who attended workshops on using life story Work requested some information We wish to bring together our knowledge, experiences and resources into one place that might be shared by othersThe content of the pack was based on thefindings from 8 focus groups and fromconversations with people with dementia.

3 Family carers and care staff asking whattheir information needs IN SOUTH YORKSHIRERESOURCE PACKBACKGROUND TO life story WORKThe use of life story Work wasfirst described in the 1980s withchildren who were adopted or in care. It was used as a way ofhelping the child to confirmtheir identity and the 1990s the use of life story Work was detailed with: people with learningdisabilities; older people in care homes;older people in general hospitals andpeople with dementia. Since that time it has also been used with people with mentalhealth needs and people receiving end oflife IN SOUTH YORKSHIRERESOURCE PACKCONTINUES OVERLEAF>We describe the use of life story Workwith people with dementia as.

4 A way of communicating with a person (and their family carers) about their life Finding out what was important to the person in terms of their memories, experiences, life events, values and beliefs Recording that information in a way that is negotiated with the person (and their family carers) Using that information with the person in everyday communication and care activities An on-going process of discoveryThe benefits of life story Work mayinclude:For the person living with dementia It can help them to feel proud of their life Make them feel listened to and valued Help them to feel that they are contributing Assist in triggering memories Can give the person a voice I was noticing her expressions Oh yes itwas me when other people comment Ohwas you a school teacher and I didn t knowyou ran a pub and Yes it s me and likeshuffling her clothes proud of whatshe did do.

5 OT assistant about a womanlooking at her life story family carers Can help them to feel like they are doing something helpful Can help them to remember the person in the context of their whole life and not just since they had dementia Can help them to feel proud of their relative and their achievements It was nice to recapture some of thosememories .. the fact that he is still theperson that you married he looks slightlydifferent, he may act differently but it s stillthe person that you married so I think Ineeded that little jolt back as well. Wifeabout her experience of life story Workwith her care staff It is enjoyable to work with a person with dementia (and their family carers)

6 In this way It can help staff to appreciate the person with dementia in the context of their whole life It can help make connections between staff and the person with dementia It can help staff to understand the person better It can help to challenge negative views and assumptions about the person I don t think I quite knew the depth of hercharacter, when you listen to her life storyit s been very troubled and traumatic attimes and yet she s come out very balancedand non judgemental and I think it s justmade me inspired really by how she shandled things. Nurse manager about awoman she undertook life story Work NEEDED BYTHE PERSON GATHERINGTHE life STORYLife story Work is not justabout gathering informationabout a person s life .

7 What isimportant is the way in whichthe life story information isgathered. The qualities of theperson gathering the LifeStory Work information areessential for the person withdementia to feel valued andcomfortable. TOLD IN SOUTH YORKSHIRERESOURCE PACKCONTINUES OVERLEAF>These following qualities are important: Being open minded Not judging what the person says or judging their values and beliefs Having a genuine interest in what older people have to say Being inquisitive and curious about the livesof other people, without appearing nosey Awareness of own feelings, emotions and responses Being able to appreciate and tune in to the feelings of other people Respecting and valuing the person and their story Responding in a sensitive way to any emotions Being appreciative about what we can learn from the stories of older people An ability to listen and convey attention to the story teller Being able to reflect and learn from past experiencesLife story Work is best gathered whenyou already know something about theperson with dementia and have startedto develop rapport with them.

8 HoweverLife story Work can also help develop andstrengthen rapport with the TO GET STARTEDG etting started with life story Work can feel difficult,especially for the first can be an idea that there is a right way of doing it or it can feel like anoverwhelming prospect. This is summed upby a staff member starting out with LifeStory Work: Actually getting going is quite difficult .. it sone of those things you look at as quite a bigthing and where do I start? Who do I ask?Where do I go to find out this information?Once you get going it s kind of easy and youfind your way and you find your paths.

9 Our advice would be to make a start , give ita try and start small and hopefully this packwill guide you through the section is especially relevant to staffwho are considering using life story Workwith people with dementia. A: Seeing if a person wants to participate inLife story WorkIdentify a person who you think may benefitfrom / enjoy life story WorkTalk to them about it and get an idea ofwhether they are interested or not. Noticetheir reactions, verbal and non-verbal. See ifthey seem to understand what is involved. Ask them if there are family members youcan also talk to in order to keep theminformed and also gather information from(be guided by the person s wishes)Consider a number of key questions to ask ofthe person and people who know them well: Has the person been someone happy to talk about their life to others?

10 Are there any known distressing or unpleasant memories the person may prefer not to relive?TOLD IN SOUTH YORKSHIRERESOURCE PACKCONTINUES OVERLEAF> Do you think the person would like care staff to know more about their life to assist in their care? Is the person someone who is happy to share their views and opinions with others if given the opportunity?Getting formal consent in awritten form is not alwaysnecessary or relevant as youneed to appreciate theperson may change theirmind at any point during theprocess. It is importantthough to note responsesand respect the person swishes.