An Assistant Occupational Therapist is helping dementia patients keep their memories alive by helping them record their life stories.
Steve Clarke works with patients and their families to create personalised Forever Memories life story booklets.
Steve, 68, retired from his job as a project programme manager at IBM and began volunteering at Essex Partnership University NHS Trust’s Specialist Dementia and Frailty Service clinic at St Margaret’s Hospital in Epping during the COVID pandemic in 2020.
In March 2023 he started working part time as an Assistant Occupational Therapist.
In addition to his part time work Steve helps identify dementia patients who would like their live story written and creates a profile about them which captures their lives, memories, interests and the people who are important to them.
It’s a useful way to record important information about the person that can then help staff, relatives, carers and friends engage with them better and spark memories.
Steve’s Forever Memories booklets have become popular with our community dementia patients and their families and he is looking for volunteers to help write the stories.
Steve, who currently writes the booklets on his own, said: “I have so far written 11 life story booklets. They are a great way of helping our dementia patients remember key events and memories of their past and it is written down for them to look back on as their condition deteriorates.
“I spend a good few hours talking and listening and taking down notes.
“It’s such a rewarding job as they trust you with their information and you get to hear some amazing stories – it’s so interesting.
“The patients come alive when they talk about their school life, family holidays, and key anniversaries.
“It’s such a joy to be involved in and the families are so grateful.
“We write down key dates so they can remember to send cards and we add photographs and it is put together as a bound booklet. They really like to show their families, especially their grandchildren.
“I really enjoy spending the time with the patients and getting to know them. It’s just so nice to see the smiles on their faces when I give them their books.”
The life story booklets take between six and eight weeks to compile. Steve visits each patient and spends a few hours talking about what information and pictures they would like to include. A family member or carer is also present to help.
He also creates a one page ‘Who am I?’ profile, which patients can take to hospital appointments. It outlines their likes and dislikes, who they are and their hobbies and interests.
Steve said: “The one page ‘Who am I’ profile is something I pulled together to help the patient when they are away from home and to also help people who are caring for them to understand them a bit better.
“It includes a range of information including how they like their coffee to what their daily routine is. It also has a picture of them on the front.”
The feedback from Steve’s life story booklets have been very positive.
A family member said: “The sessions at home were very friendly and joyful for my wife recounting sections of her past life.
“My partner’s attitude brightens up when she looks through her life story booklet.”
Today 55 million people around the world live with dementia and a new person develops it every three seconds.
EPUT has dedicated dementia services, including a multi-disciplinary Dementia Intensive Support Team (DIST), who provide intensive support to patients of all ages with dementia and older people with a mental health diagnosis to prevent hospital admissions.
This Sunday (21 January) is Race Against Dementia Day, which aims to raise money to fund innovative dementia research.
Race Against Dementia is a global charity founded by Formula 1 champion Sir Jackie Stewart OBE after his wife Jackie was diagnosed with dementia at the age of 54.
If you would like to find out more about volunteering to write Forever Memories booklets for our community dementia patients in west Essex, visit our volunteer opportunities page to find out more.
#WeCare – We want everyone who uses our services to have the best possible experience. Our care will be therapeutic, tailored to each patient’s individual needs, and focus on what they need to feel better.
To read more about our priorities and commitments to deliver the highest quality and safest care possible, read our five year plan.