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HealthInfo Canterbury

How to make a memory book

Me pēhea e tito i tētahi pukapuka maumaharatanga

sepia woman on bikeA memory book can be very helpful for someone with memory loss and for their family. It provides a record of their personal history, which can be very helpful as their memory loss increases.

A memory book describes likes, dislikes, interests and work history and identifies family and friends.

If someone is diagnosed with dementia, it's best to start creating a memory book as soon as possible. This way, the person can be involved in choosing the pictures, and they can use their own language to describe each picture. Even if they have memory loss without a diagnosis of dementia, a memory book is a good idea in case their memory loss gets worse.

Not only will this book help your loved one to remember their life story, but it can also be a storybook for future generations.

Getting started on your memory book

To build your memory book you'll need:

Topics to Include in your memory book

Include reminders of the important people, places and things in their life. These include:

girl with microscope

Some pages to include

Tips for your memory book

Written by speech language therapist, Older Persons Mental Health, Canterbury DHB. Adapted by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed August 2022.

Sources

Page reference: 307877

Review key: HIMLD-33325