Image: sxc.hu

I’ve taught scrapbooking and family history activities at a local nursing home and enjoyed this experience as much as the patients seemed to.

We made a scrapbook with a page for each resident who attended the sessions.  Using photos taken by the nursing home staff over a period of time, an activity coordinator and I arranged the pictures, chatted with the residents about them, and encouraged each patient to choose colors and embellishments.  Each did as much or as little as they could.

We kept the procedure very simple. using materials I compiled.  I also provided a family history questionnaire that we filled out with the patients as they finished the scrapbooking page.  They really enjoyed chatting about the memories these questions evoked.

The scrapbook we produced was kept at the nursing home, as something the residents could look at again and again.

Does anyone have similar experiences they would like to share?

(I do put together the supplies for these scrapbooking and family histories, along with instructions, so others, in their home or in nursing homes, can become involved in activities of their own.)

Post from: Blisstree

Scrapbooking with Alzheimer’s Patients

I’ve sometimes discussed memory book projects for Alzheimer’s patients at my Alzheimer’s Notes blog and how these help jog the person’s memory and give you both something to talk about.

Why not include quilting in these memory books if this ever played a part of your family member’s life?

• Do you have photos of quilting/fabric art projects the patient may have made?
• Do you have photos of a favorite quilt they used on their bed or as a decorative accent?
• Is there a photo of a quilt they received as a gift?
• Were they involved in quilting with someone…a friend, family member?  A photo of the person may help as a memory and conversation jogger.
• Did they participate in quilt shows/exhibits?

Keep these albums simple…just a small book they can hold easily,which doesn’t involve complex situations.  They usually can process one memory at a time.

This also can be utilized as a group project at a nursing home. 

Have you used quilting as a memory jogger or a fun project with your Alzheimer’s family member…or with patients if you work at a nursing home?  Do share with us.

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

Creating Quilting Memory Books for Alzheimer’s Patients