life story research

Life story books are a well-researched and proven method to provide better person-centered care plans and care practices, more effective relationships between residents, family, and staff. For the most part, the literature reveals that life stories generally had a positive influence on the the person in need of care, their relatives, and care partners. Life story books allowed the voice of persons in need of care to be “heard and to feel proud about themselves and their lives”.

Life story books have been used in long-term and community care facilities for nearly thirty years and there has been increasing awareness in its potential to enhance person-centered care. Studies found that when staff knew the resident’s life story achievements and experiences, they were able to prompt positive memories which benefited the resident by reducing anxiety and challenging “expressions”. Furthermore, life story books provided positive long-term memory triggers that could be used to promote both verbal and non-verbal communication and interactions with the person and view them in relation to their unique family history and past experiences. Care staff that have understanding and insight into why a resident might exhibit a certain expression, felt empowered to provide more person-centered care rather than the usual “task-oriented” care. All the studies found the staff attitudes, compassion and empathy for persons in need of care improved when a life story book was created by the resident or their family and used in practice.

Here is a helpful list of research on life story books and more:

Alzheimer’s Association. (2013). 2013 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, Retrieved from http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_stages_of_alzheimers.asp#

Billings, D., & Halstead, J. A. (2012). Teaching in nursing, A guide for faculty (4th ed.). St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier.

Butler RN. The life review: an interpretation of reminiscence in old age. Psychiatry. 1963; 26(26):65–76. [PubMed: 14017386]

Dementia Care (n.d.). [accessed 26 January 2014] Life story template. available at: www.dementiacare.org.uk/living-well-with-dementia/i-am-a-carer-or-friend/planning-for-today-or-tomorrow/life-stories

Dementia UK (n.d.). [accessed 26 January 2014] My life story. available at: www.dementiauk.org/information-support/life-story-work/

Duane, B.T., & Satre, M. E. (2014). Utilizing constructivism learning theory in collaborative testing as a creative strategy to promote essential nursing skills. Nurse Education Today, 34(1), 31-34. doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2013.03.005.

Finkle, L. M. (2012), “Teaching in Nursing: The Faculty Role.” Teaching in Nursing: A Guide for Faculty. By D. M. Billings & J.A. Halstead. 4th ed. St. Louis, MO: Suanders/Elsevier. pp: 1-14.

Gates, NJ; Perminder, S; Sachdey, M; et al (2013). Cognitive and memory training in adults at risk of dementia: a systematic review. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3191477

Haight, B.K., Gibson, F., & Michel, Y. (2006). The Northern Ireland life review/life storybook project for people with dementia. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 2(1), 56–58. doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2005.12.003.

Hoe, J., Hancock, G., Livingston, G., & Orrell, M. (2006). Quality of life of people with dementia in residential care homes. British Journal of Psychiatry, 188, 460–464. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.104.007658IOM, 2010. (n.d.). Report at a glance. Retrieved from http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2010/The Future-of-Nursing-Leading-Change-Advancing-Health/Press-Release.aspx.

Hungerford C, Jones T, Cleary M. Pharmacological versus nonpharmacological approaches to managing challenging behaviours for people with dementia. Br J Community Nurs. 2014;19(2):72–7.Iwasiw, C., & Goldenberg, D. (2015). Curriculum Development in Nursing (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Keady J, Williams S, Hughes-Roberts J. Emancipatory practice development through life-story work: changing care in a memory clinic in North Wales. Practice Development in Health Care. 2005; 4(4):203–12.

Keady J, Williams S, Hughes-Roberts J. ‘Making mistakes’: using co-constructed inquiry to illuminate meaning and relationships in the early adjustment to Alzheimer’s disease – a single case study approach. Dementia: The International Journal of Social Research and Practice. 2007; 6(3):343–64.

Kellett U, Moyle W, McAllister M, King C, Gallagher F. Life stories and biography: a means of connecting family and staff to people with dementia. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 2010; 19(11-12):1707–15. [PubMed: 20579206]

Kitwood, T. Dementia Reconsidered: The Person Comes First. Open University; Buckingham: 1997.

Maslow, K. (2013). Person Centered Care for People with Dementia: Opportunities and Challenges. Generations, 37(3), 8-15. Retrieved from: http://my.excelsior.edu/documents/78666/291539

McKeown J, Clarke A, Repper J. Life story work in health and social care: systematic literature review. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 2006; 55(2):237–47. [PubMed: 16866815]

McKeown J, Ryan T, Ingleton C, Clarke A. You have to be mindful of whose story it is’: the challenges of undertaking life story work with people with dementia and their family carers. Dementia: The International Journal of Social Research and Practice. 2013b doi:10.1177/1471301213495864.

McKeown, J.; Ryan, T.; Button, L.; Galloway, S.; Wattam, M.; Jepson, C.; Rimmer, K. [accessed 26 January 2014] Told in South Yorkshire – life story work & people with dementia. 2013a. available at: www.toldinsouthyorkshire.co.uk/blog/

Moos I, Bjorn A. Use of the life story in the institutional care of people with dementia: a review of intervention studies. Ageing Soc. 2006;26(3):431–54. PubMed PMID: 57114048; 200704712. English.

Morgan, S., & Woods, R.T. (2010). Life review with people with dementia in care homes: A preliminary randomized controlled trial. Non-Pharmacological Therapies in Dementia, 1, 43–60.

Oakleaf,M (2009) Using rubrics to assess information literacy: An examination of methodology and interrater reliability, Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology,60, 969-983.

Murphy, C. It Started with a Sea-Shell: Life Story Work and People with Dementia. Dementia Services Development Centre, University of Stirling; Stirling: 1994. available at: www.dementiashop.co.uk/ [accessed 26 January 2014]

National Association for Providers of Activities for Older People (N.D.). All about me. available at: http://napashop.mamutweb.com/Shop

O’Connor DW, Ames D, Gardner B, King M. Psychosocial treatments of psychological symptoms in dementia: a systematic review of reports meeting quality standards. Int Psychogeriatr. 2009;21(2):241–51

Oermann, M. H. & Gaberson, K. B. (2014). Evaluation and Testing in Nursing Education (Fourth ed.). New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.

Patel B, Perera M, Pendleton J, Richman A, Majumdar B. Psychosocial interventions for dementia: from evidence to practice. Advances in psychiatric treatment. 2014;20(5):340–9Schweitzer, P.; Bruce, E. Remembering Yesterday, Caring Today, Reminiscence in Dementia Care: A Guide to Good Practice. Jessica Kingsley; London: 2008.

Regan B, Varanelli L. Adjustment, depression, and anxiety in mild cognitive impairment and early dementia: a systematic review of psychological intervention studies. Int Psychogeriatr. 2013;25(12):1963–84.

Roach P, Keady J, Bee P, Williams S. ‘We can’t keep going on like this’: identifying family storylines in young onset dementia. Ageing and Society. 2014; 34(8):1397–1426.

Russell C, Timmons S. Life story work and nursing home residents with dementia. Nurs Older People. 2009;21(4):28–32. English.

Sperling RA, Aisen PS, Beckett LA, Bennett DA, Craft S, Fagan AM, et al. Toward defining the preclinical stages of Alzheimer’s disease: recommendations from the National Institute on Aging–Alzheimer’s Association workgroups on diagnostic guidelines for Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimers Dement 2011;7:280–92.

Springfield Leisure-Art Collection. My Life Story. Winslow Resources; Chesterfield: 1993. available at: www.winslowresources.com/my-life-story.html

Thompson R (2009) Realising the Potential: Developing Life Story Work in Practice. Foundation of Nursing Studies, London.

Thompson R. Using life story work to enhance care. Nurs Older People. 2011;23(8):16–21. English.

Treiber, KA; Carlson, MC; Corcoran, C; et al. (2012). Cognitive simulation and cognitive and functional decline in Alzheimer’s disease: the Cache County Dementia Progression Study. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21441386

Watson Caring Science Institute (2015). Caring science theory and research. Retrieved from http://watsoncaringscience.org/about-us/caring-science-definitions-processes-theory/

Wightman, S.; O’Neill, M.; Crowther, M.; Holroyd, L. Portrait of a Life: A Multimedia Toolkit for Life Story Work. Medipex Ltd; Leeds: 2009. available at: www.medipex.co.uk/success-stories/portrait-of-a-life/

Williams, J. (2010). “Preventing Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline”. Evid Rep Technol Assess 193: 1–727. PMID 21500874

Woods, R.T., Bruce, E., Edwards, R.T., Hounsome, B., Keady, J., Moniz-Cook, E., Orrell, M., & Russell, I.T. (2009). Reminiscence groups for people with dementia and their family carers: Pragmatic eight-centre randomised trial of joint reminiscence and maintenance versus usual treatment: A protocol. Trials, 10, 64. doi:10.1186/1745-6215-10-64.

Woods, B., Keady, J., Seddon, D. (2007). Involving families in care homes: A relationship-centred approach to dementia care. London: Jessica Kingsley.

Woods, B., Spector, A.E., Jones, C.A., Orrell, M., Davies, S.P. (2005). Reminiscence therapy for dementia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2005(2), CD001120. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001120.pub2.

life story research

Life Story Resources

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