My Story
The purpose of this activity is to compose and compile an individual’s Life Story. This can be completed by a caregiver with the care receiver. My Story is a great opportunity to reminisce about significant life events and life review, help the author show others who they are, what they enjoy and what is important to them. (The Document/Scrapbook can be used as the person moves through various care settings.)
Ideal Group Size: 1:1
Equipment Needed
- Computer, ability to print off hard copy record of Life Story
- Scrapbook, photo album, labels
- Scrapbook supplies (stickers, markers, pens, etc.)
Instructions
- Meet for a coffee or a snack to reminisce. Bring old photos, mementoes and documents.
- Review and chat about different stages of life from early childhood to present day. Review one time period at a time, take time to reminisce and talk about each era.
- Tease out what was most important to the person’s life story.
- Record information collected at each session (follow a proposed My Story draft outline or use your own ideas).
- Celebrate/Recognize the importance of the information collected after each session.
- Post sample mementoes/pictures in your residence (e.g. mementos on the fridge, old photos).
- At each session, the collected memories can be a page for the draft My Story.
- After six to eight sessions, bring collected information together in scrapbook/binder.
- Ask a scribe, family member or friend to help complete the project.
- Keep My Story handy when visitors come by and show it with pride to neighbours, caregivers and friends. Talk about your story and ask about theirs.
To Do List:
- Label documents, pictures, mementoes, other documents for My Story and/or scrapbook
- Record basic information on an individual (names, nicknames, family history).
- Add life to this basic information highlighting significant events and traditions. Other ideas to include:
- What is important to me? Record likes and dislikes, secrets and important persons.
- Strengths, weaknesses, basic personality traits and favourite foods/drinks/treats.
- Other details such as how to cheer them up on a bad day or how do they like to spend the day.
- Insights on when to give (or not give) advice.
- Put the Life Story draft in a scrapbook or binder with a collection of pictures and items of interest.