LifeBio

Check out our NEW BLOG!

2020-07-22T14:44:00.000-04:00

We have MOVED! Please check out our new blog on our LifeBio website at https://www.lifebio.org/blog/ . Don't miss out-- we hope to see you there today!

LifeBio Needs Your Vote!

2020-07-06T15:38:00.002-04:00

LifeBio was recently nominated to advance in the Aging2.0 and Louisville Healthcare CEO Council Global Innovation Search competition. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT now during the public voting round! Please visit http://wshe.es/Yl7IrgAW and be sure to vote for us once a day, every day through July 31. The highest ranked companies will get to compete in the Virtual Pitch Event in August. More information about the competition can be found at www.aging2.com/gis.

Aging2.0 and The Louisville Healthcare CEO Council are searching for the best aging-focused innovators in the world focusing on mitigating social isolation and loneliness - and we’re in the running! LifeBio has been selected as a Global Innovation Search semi-finalist, after having gone through the application and rigorous nomination process. LifeBio hopes to be voted into the top ten finalists, who get to move on to the Virtual Pitch Competition. Public voting is now open, so help us by voting for LifeBio once a day, every day until July 31! http://wshe.es/Yl7IrgAW

How to Avoid Cognitive Decline

2020-05-27T14:00:00.000-04:00

Do you ever walk into a room and suddenly cannot remember why you went there in the first place? Have you ever been talking and mid-sentence you draw a blank as to what you were going to say next? Do you ever misplace simple everyday items, such as your eyeglasses or keys? Are you ever left tongue-tied trying to think of the word you want to say, while you know the meaning you want to convey but the word just isn’t coming to you?

Sometimes moments like this can stop us in our tracks. It can be frustrating to have a thought slip from our mind as quickly as it entered. At times it may even cause us to question whether it is normal versus whether we should be concerned with the frequency of such incidents. Fears aside, some forgetfulness is normal and does not necessitate worry. Some gradual mental decline with aging is ordinary.

It is typical that as we age, most people will take a bit longer to learn new information or recall material. Additionally, our performance time may slow, and we might become more easily distracted. It is common to forget names or words from time to time. It is not unusual to misplace things occasionally. Normal declines due to aging do not affect overall functioning and ability to ultimately complete activities in our daily living. Typical aging does not affect recognition, intelligence, or long-term memory.

Cognitive impairment means someone has difficulty remembering, learning something new, concentrating, and making decisions affecting everyday life. For example, a person may more frequently forget having had a conversation. They might now forget an appointment or planned event, which they previously would have remembered. A person may begin to suffer confusion (including identity confusion), impaired judgment, and loss of short-term or long-term memory. One may also suffer form poor motor coordination. Cognitive impairment ranges from mild to severe, and the advancing cases may include Alzheimer's and forms of dementia.

How can we slow cognitive decline?

Much as there are habits we can do to promote better physical health in our bodies, we can also take steps to prolong our mental health. The sooner we start to focus on our brain health, the more we can prolong our cognitive capabilities, whether or not a person has been diagnosed as having a form of cognitive impairment. It may not be surprising to know that many of things that benefit us physically can also benefit us cognitively.

Exercise- Engage in regular cardiovascular exercise, which elevates the heart rate in a healthy way. This could mean exercise for at least an hour three days a week, or it could be as simple as walking at least a half hour every day. The idea is to avoid obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other negative health risk factors. This will help keep your mind sharper.
Diet- Eat a healthy diet. While there is not one set diet that is professed to work for everyone, lowering or avoiding the intake of processed foods and sugars, bad fats, and cholesterol is encouraged. A diet full of vegetables and fruits is advised. Fish, poultry, and lean meats are suggested over higher fat red meats. Whole grains, nuts, and seeds are encouraged over processed grains. Healthy fats (such as fish like salmon, avocados, and some nuts) and the use of olive oil is preferred to higher fatty vegetable oils. Some people specifically prefer a Mediterranean-style diet, including the Mediterranean-DASH diet. Putting better foods into your brain allows your brain to give you better output.
Sleep- Get the appropriate amount of sleep each night (suggested 7-9 hours). On the flip side, some studies now show that getting too much sleep regularly (defined as over 9 hours a night) can also have negative effects on the brain. Our brains need our bodies to rest so that they can perform at their peak.
Mental Stimulation- Keep learning and try new things. You might even consider taking a class, learning something from an online video, or trying a new hobby. Encourage your brain to stay active through mental exercises, such as reading and writing. You might do word search, Sudoku, or crossword puzzles. You could assemble a jigsaw puzzle. Consider playing board or card games. Play music. Engage in group discussions, such as through MyHelloLine. Vary what you do so that you are not staring at an electronic screen all day.
Social Contacts- Maintaining social connections and participating in social activities are advised. Staying connected helps limit feelings of loneliness and depression, and it can lower stress levels. Social activities also require one to engage in several mental processes, which encourage better cognition. Pursue those activities that are meaningful to you—from volunteering to joining a choir, from participating in a quilting circle to helping a friend assemble new furniture, or from going on lunch dates with friends to participating in a book club.
Avoid Head Injuries- Take actions to avoid head injuries. Take steps to avoid falls. For example, if needed, install a handrail or non-slip flooring in the bathtub or shower. Move or avoid things that could be considered hazards for tripping or slipping. Wear your seat belt when riding in a vehicle. Wear appropriate head gear if participating in activities such as riding a bike or horseback riding.
Alcohol- Moderate consumption is okay, if you already enjoy an occasional alcoholic beverage. This should be limited to two drinks per day for men and one per day for women. Some studies show that red wine may be more effective than other types of alcohol. However, it should be noted that heavy drinkers (defined as men having more than four drinks per day or 14 drinks per week and women having more than three drinks per day or seven drinks per week) are at a higher risk than nondrinkers for diseases such as Alzheimer’s. If you are so inclined, go ahead and partake in happy hour today!

Feel free to reach out and see how LifeBio can assist you in staying mentally stimulated today. We have activities to engage people in telephone conversations and through wellness checks. We offer online journals and print journals to encourage writing and remembering life events. We have tools to encourage meaningful conversation, especially using our reminiscence therapy. How can we best serve you today?

LifeBio can be found online at https://www.lifebio.org/, via email at info@lifebio.com, or via telephone at 1-800-LIFEBIO.

Sources:

https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/protecting-against-cognitive-decline

https://www.winchesterhospital.org/health-library/article?id=30032

https://www.everydayhealth.com/columns/health-answers/ways-prevent-dementia/

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17990-mild-cognitive-impairment

We Remember...

2020-05-24T02:11:00.000-04:00

Memorial Day is about so much more than just a day off work. It is not just about family fun, long-weekend getaways, or barbecues with friends. It is much more meaningful than just welcoming the unofficial start of summer.

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day in the years following the Civil War. Initially celebrated in 1868, President James Garfield gave the first Decoration Day speech at Arlington National Cemetery. For over 100 years, Decoration Day was always observed on May 30th, regardless of the day of the week. While it originated to commemorate fallen Civil War soldiers, in time the day began to also remember those who fought in World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Then in 1971, Memorial Day was finally made an official federal holiday, when Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, establishing that Memorial Day would furthermore always be on the last Monday of May. For 49 years Memorial Day has been honoring service men and women who lost their lives while fighting in any war, now also including in Iraq and Afghanistan. Memorial Day should not to be confused with Veteran's Day, which honors those who have served and are still serving in the military.

Now it is common for cities and towns across the United States to host parades, often incorporating military personnel. Many places hold ceremonies in cemeteries or at monuments to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. It is common for flags and sometimes flowers or wreaths to be placed at grave sites. Many households will fly flags, and some people will wear or display a red poppy (dating back to a World War I poem). On Memorial Day especially, it is appropriate to remember those who gave their lives and could not come home, while being grateful for the freedoms they helped to defend for us. It is also a good time to honor their loves ones and show them our gratitude and support.

Do you personally know someone who has given the ultimate sacrifice? Do you have a family member whose memory deserves to be honored and not forgotten? If so, we hope that you will share their history as you pay tribute to them this Memorial Day.

At LifeBio we believe everyone's story is worth recalling and sharing. We would be honored to help you revere the life of a fallen comrade, family member, friend, or loved one. We encourage you to take this opportunity to document their story before it is lost or forgotten.

Thank you to our heroes who gave the ultimate sacrifice. We are deeply grateful for the gift you have given for us. We remember and honor you!

How do you plan to spend your Memorial Day? Will you make time to celebrate and honor those who have died while serving our country? Please feel free to comment your ideas, or share the memories of loved ones with us.

LifeBio can be found online at https://www.lifebio.org, via email at info@lifebio.com, or via telephone at 1-800-LIFEBIO (1-800-543-3246).

Overcoming Adversity

2020-05-21T02:52:00.000-04:00

What are some of the challenges you have faced in your life? Often times the things we have faced are part of what makes our story unique from another person’s. While we may confront similar hardships, no two people meet the exact same circumstances. The types and intensity of our difficulties typically vary too. For a child, hardships may be things like a spat with a sibling or a friend, struggling in school, or being upset over being told no by a parent. As we reach adulthood, our struggles likely grow to include things like money matters, job concerns, relationship troubles, and beyond.

Adversity is not always a pleasant or easy topic, nor one we frequently want to share with others. Even in my own life, when I think of the stories I heard my grandmother tell me, she typically did not focus on the negative. She shared the more positive things, such as in advancements going from a horse and buggy to seeing cars invented and eventually space shuttles putting man on the moon. In fact as I look back, a couple of stories that in her day would have been thought more scandalous for the family, were not even shared. It was only after her passing, and when I was older, that my father shared some of those memories with my sisters and me.

Throughout history there have been many periods of adversity that groups of people faced. Many people have fought to make a new way through immigration. There were people who lived through slavery and the fight for freedom. African Americans and women had to stand up for their right to vote. Our nation suffered through the Great Depression and other economic recessions. Many families have lived through wars and the hardships of rationing or having loved ones perish. Others have battled living with PTSD. In the 1960s there were terrific struggles during the Civil Rights movement. There have been great efforts with fighting diseases like AIDS. People still fight now to overcome all sorts of "-isms," from racism to agism to sexism and beyond. Even today our whole world is figuring out how to deal with the effects of coronavirus.

As I reflect on my own life, if I consider sharing stories of hardship one day with my children and other family members, I will likely be selective as my grandmother was. For example, this week has been trying for my husband and me, amidst social isolation from COVID-19 still going on, working from home, and struggles with the economy. On top of that, in a malicious neighborhood attack, a brick was thrown shattering our car window, and two of our tires were slashed. That means that we have been dealing with getting glass cleaned up and finding a replacement window to have installed. My husband had to put our spare tire on our car, and we had to find a second tire we could use just to drive the car to get replacement tires. While that greatly impacts my life this week, it is not likely a story I will remember to tell my kids years into the future.

What I would consider more valuable to share with future generations though is how we face and overcome adversity. What I would like my children to see one day is the patience I have learned and the growth demonstrated through facing challenges level-headed. This week I could have acted like I would have been more inclined in my childhood or youth, by throwing a tantrum or wanting to curse. I could have yelled and cried at the unfairness. I could have let my husband punch through a wall, as he probably felt like doing. But that isn’t what we did. Instead we took a few deep breaths. We stayed calm and then jumped right in, doing what we needed to do. We worked together to solve our problem. We were in it together, through calling the police to make a report and then starting the cleanup. While my husband sweated to put on the spare tire and started finding a second tire, I was able to begin the search for a replacement window.

One day we will have plenty of other stories about challenges to share with our children, such as when I felt called to move to Mexico to work three years in an orphanage and how I met and married my husband there. We can talk about our struggles as an interracial and bilingual couple, where at least one of us will always live outside our native country. Then we can also pass on advice to our kids about confronting and overcoming problems in a mature and respectable way.

What is your unique story? What adversity have you faced, and what challenges have you overcome? What life events and lessons have you lived through that are worth sharing and remembering? Do you have advice for future generations based on what you have lived and learned? I encourage you to share your story today.

If you’d like resources or help in telling your story, we at LifeBio would love to help. You can find us online at https://www.lifebio.org/, via email at info@lifebio.com, or by telephone at 1-800-LIFEBIO (1-800-543-3246).

~By: Laurel LaFrance, LifeBio Story Teams Editor~

What's Your Story? Let's Talk Thursdays at 11 a.m.

2020-05-13T21:22:00.003-04:00

FREE "What's Your Story?" Group
Topic: HISTORICAL EVENTS (week 4 of 8)

Join us! LifeBio is offering a free "What's Your Story?" conversation group with residents (and staff and family members) of retirement communities and nursing homes from coast to coast. Thursdays at 11 a.m. ET. (5/14/2020 - June 11, 2020)

ALL ARE WELCOME! Our previous calls included people ages 6 to 85+ participating (and one dog!). All people need is a PHONE to participate or they can ZOOM with video if they prefer.

"What's Your Story?" continues this week with people sharing the impact of HISTORICAL EVENTS with each other. This group lasts until Thursday, June 1

so mark your calendar! Multiple people will have a chance to share LIVE with the group.

We know that incredible stories, memories, and experiences will be shared. You can just sit back and listen or say what's on your mind.

CALL IN by phone or ZOOM IN with video. Social engagement is so important at this time for ALL of us. Receive the invitation (it's the same link/phone number each week) with all the details by emailing info@lifebio.com or just reply to this email. Grab a cup of coffee and join us!

Let's meet for storytelling, new conversations, and laughter!

Communication Tips for Talking to People Living with Dementia and Alzheimer’s

2020-05-12T23:51:00.001-04:00

Do you know someone living with Alzheimer’s or another form of Dementia? If so, it can be difficult to see memories and realities slipping away from our loved ones. However, that does not mean that we no longer want to engage with them. In fact, getting them to participate in conversation can help them to prolong their memories and engage their minds. It can also be an opportunity for them to feel successful, be happier, and even decrease negative health effects like feelings of depression.

It may seem daunting to know where or how to begin though. First of all, it helps to recognize that we all have good days and bad days. For a person living with Alzheimer’s or Dementia, the disease typically gets worse with time, so communication can become more challenging over time too. Some days will be easier or better than others. It helps to approach communication with a positive attitude, a willingness to try, and believing in what can be most successful.

Here we offer suggestions for effective conversation. We give ideas for what to do and what to avoid. We advise how to best communicate, along with some things you might try to talk about.

Preparation

Consider if there is a time of day that is best for them, such as in the morning or after eating lunch.
Make sure that their needs are met first, like having used the restroom and eaten, so that they can better focus.
Allow yourself enough time to spend having a conversation so that neither of you are rushed or feeling stressed.
Perhaps have a topic or two in mind that you could try to talk about, but be flexible if they want to talk about something else.
Be sure to get their full attention. Aid in limiting distractions and providing a quiet, appropriately lit setting. It can help to turn off the television or radio. Perhaps shut the door or window to limit noise or other disturbances. You may want to limit the number of people present at one time, to avoid confusion.
Position yourself so they can see you clearly. Try to get on their level, so you are not looking down on them. Respect their personal space, not sitting too close nor too far away.

How to Speak and Act

Use a warm and calming tone of voice. Do not raise your voice or speak sharply to them.
Keep your face and body relaxed too. Make sure your body language and facial expressions match your voice and what you are saying.
Make eye contact and smile.
Without being so slow as to seem insulting, you may need to speak a little slower.
Give the person time to think and respond. This could mean up to two or three times what once felt normal. After giving time, if they struggle with an answer, then it may be okay to suggest a couple of words to help them.
Speak clearly and loudly enough. Use short, simple sentences. Only talk about one thing at a time, avoiding many tangents or stories that require various threads.

How to Ask Questions

Try to converse back and forth with them as they are able, rather than just asking a string of questions that may feel more like an interrogation.
Keep questions simple and easy to answer. It can help to break things into shorter questions.
It may be less stressful to ask yes or no questions, such as, “Would you like a cup of coffee?” or “Do you want to listen to music?”
You could give two choices to answering a question, rather than asking an open-ended question. For example, they may not easily answer, “What do you want to do this afternoon?” However, it may be easier for them to decide when asked, “Would you rather go for a walk or play checkers?”
If you haven’t fully understood what they said, you might try to rephrase what you believe you heard, and check with them if you are correct.
If you do not understand something, it is okay to kindly state that. For example, you could say, “I am not sure I understand,” rather than, “You aren’t making any sense!” Then ask for clarification or more information.

Keep It Positive

Be cheerful, patient, and calm. Even if they have angry outbursts, remember it’s the disease causing the anger, not the person.
Offer encouragement and be positive. Respond with reassurance and affection, striving to offer comfort and support.
If it is appropriate, use gentle touch to reassure them. It may be okay to hold a hand, pat them on the shoulder, wrap your arm around them, or give them a hug.
Avoid baby talk or condescension. Talk to them respectfully, using their name if you can. Include them in the conversation, and do not talk about them as if they are not there (even if they are not being verbal in the moment).
Do not quibble. It is okay to let delusions or misstatements go. You likely won’t get very far, if you try to correct every inaccurate thing that is said.
Focus on the positive of what they can do and have done. Even if their results aren’t perfect, be gracious and say things like, “Thank you for helping,” or “Thank you for that answer.” Rather than point out a mistake, encourage them by saying something like, “Let’s try doing it this way…” Instead of saying, “Don’t do that,” politely state what you would like them to do, such as, “Please sit down.” Avoid insistence and arguing; you can try again later, if needed.

What to Say

When speaking, refer to people by their names. Avoid pronouns like she, he, and they. It can even help to identify yourself, such as, “Hi, Grandma. It’s me, Sarah.” Or you might remind and clarify who you are, such as “It’s me, your nephew, Tom. I’m John’s son.”
Remember the good old days. They may not remember 30 minutes ago, but they often clearly remember 30 years ago. Avoid talking about short-term memories, such as what they had for lunch. Talk more in general about their past.
Use prompts, such as photos, newspaper articles, or objects to help bring back memories. While looking at a wedding ring, you might question, “Do you like weddings?” or “What was your wedding day like?”
Try talking about shared experiences from long ago, such as a memorable incident, a momentous event, or a vacation. You might start talking about a particular occasion, to see if that triggers any memories that allow them to join in reminiscing.
You could try reading favorite or familiar passages together, to see if that encourages discussion. Or listen to their favorite song or genre of music. Perhaps watch a clip from a favorite movie or television show, to see if that stimulates memories and dialogue. Maybe bring a favorite food of theirs with their recipe, to see if that sparks a conversation.
Talk about things they were interested in previously, such as sports, music, art, traveling, gardening, or cooking. You might use a prompt (a picture, video, object, etc.) and ask them what they think, such as “What do you think of this painting?”

(For additional reminiscence questions, check out our available resources at https://www.lifebio.org, such as our What’s Your Story? cards or Memory Journal.)

What to Avoid Saying

Avoid asking, “Do you recognize/remember me?” Instead give a friendly greeting, and state your name. In case they would not remember, try not to ask about one set memory by saying, “Do you remember when…”
Do not use elder-speak that can make them feel infantilized. Calling them words like love, honey, dear, or sweetie can sound patronizing.
When they forget, do not reply, “I told you…” This does not help them but only reminds them of their condition and can make them feel worse.
Do not use long lists or complex sentences. It can be hard for them to follow. They likely will not understand and remember a list like, “Let’s have tea now, and then we can go for walk before we go to lunch, and you play Bingo this afternoon.” Focus on one or maybe two steps at a time. While preparing them can be good, too much at a time is overwhelming.
Avoid many open-ended questions and short-term memory questions, such as, “What did you do today?” It can help to guide them, such as if you know it is Bingo day, by asking, “Did you play Bingo this afternoon?” Or focus on talking about things they recall and want to talk about.
If they have forgotten that someone passed away, reminding them may cause them to re-live that grief. It may not be best to remind them, but it could be better to come up with another reason for a person’s absence.

How to Respond

Observe their nonverbal reactions, such as their facial expressions or gestures. If they get tired easily, a shorter conversation may be better than a long one. (A side note: As dementia advances, a person may mainly only respond with nonverbal communication.)
Try to understand the meaning and feelings they share, even if their words cannot adequately express their intended meaning. You can help them find the words to express thoughts, without being too quick to put words in their mouth. For example, if Aunt Sally is tearful after forgetting her knitters’ club meeting, and she says, “I wish they stopped.” Then you might help her clarify, “You wish your knitter friends stopped by the house?”
Try rephrasing something, rather than just repeating the same words, if they do not understand. It may help to use non-verbal cues too, if you are able, such as showing a picture of who you are talking about.
Keep a sense of humor, but not at their expense. Be sensitive. It can be okay to laugh together at misunderstandings or mistakes, especially to relieve pressure. Just be sure they are laughing with you and are not feeling laughed at. It can also help to admit something like, “Oh, I’ve done that before! Don’t you just hate that?!”
If needed, you can distract and redirect. First it is important to connect with their feelings though. For example, you could say, “I see you are feeling sad. I am sorry that you are upset. Would you like to go for a walk?” Or you could try something such as, “It seems like you are frustrated. Maybe now would be a good time for a break. Should we get something to eat?”
As dementia progresses, a person may become confused about what is true or not. If they say something that you know is not true, attempt to steer the conversation around the subject and look for the meaning behind what they are saying. Avoid contradicting them directly. As an example, if they say they need to go to work, could it be because they want to feel useful, involved, or like they are contributing? Could you help them find a way to be included or more stimulated?

Having a meaningful conversation with a person living with Dementia or Alzheimer’s requires sensitivity to their needs. By changing your approach where necessary, in order to avoid their needless frustration, you can show empathy. Then be consistent in what you say and do. Watch their reactions and respond accordingly, and thoughtful communication is a possible reality. It’s worth the effort—you’re both worth it.

Sources:

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/symptoms-and-diagnosis/symptoms/tips-for-communicating-dementia

https://www.aplaceformom.com/blog/communication-with-a-loved-one-with-dementia/

https://www.caregiver.org/caregivers-guide-understanding-dementia-behaviors

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-caregiving-changes-communication-skills

https://www.helpforalzheimersfamilies.com/learn/preserve-memories/asking-good-questions-alzheimers-patient/

https://alz.org.sg/5-conversation-starters-when-talking-to-someone-with-dementia/

https://www.verywellhealth.com/conversation-starters-for-dementia-97962

https://thegreenfields.org/things-to-say-alzheimers/

Learning about Reminiscence Therapy (and How You Might Use It)

2020-05-06T17:41:00.000-04:00

What is Reminiscence therapy?

Reminiscence Therapy (RT) is a treatment that uses all the senses to help individuals remember things from their past. It incorporates sight, touch, taste, smell, and sound to encourage remembering events, people, and places from days gone by. Objects may also be used to help with recall.

While Reminiscence Therapy has been used particularly to help people living with dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases, anyone can use RT. Often times for people with Alzheimer’s and forms of dementia, short-term or recent memories are the first to deteriorate. Through sharing from the past or long-term memories, people can develop more positive feelings, with a reduction in stress and agitation. This can allow a person to gain confidence in their abilities and provide them with the opportunity to talk about what is important to them. It can also provide relief from boredom and depression, while potentially preserving family stories for future generations.

How does Reminiscence therapy work?

Reminiscence therapy uses prompts to encourage a person to recall past memories. Reminiscing is not the same as simply remembering. Asking someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s to remember something specific can make them feel pressured, stressed, or put on the spot. They may not be able to clearly think of the things they are being asked to remember. Reminiscing allows them to share as they choose and as memories come to them. RT does not focus on correcting every detail for accuracy, but encourages a person to be able to open up and share.

For example, it can be stressful for some people to feel put on the spot with a question such as, “Do you remember the house where you grew up?” If they do not remember the exact house or do not understand exactly what they believe you are asking them to think of, they may become embarrassed or stop answering altogether. However, if a person is looking at old photos and sees a picture of his childhood home, he might be able to generate a story on his own of something that he recalls happening there. Additionally, he might be able to share more information, if someone else is able to start sharing memories related to the picture such as, "There was a family house on Oak Street. I believe there was a bedroom at the top of the stairs. I have heard that two brothers shared that room. There were two twin beds and a dresser there. The boys used to sit on the floor and sort baseball cards..."

Even without having photos, sharing stories may bring other memories to mind. One person may recount, “When I was a child, we had a huge tree in our back yard. I used to spend hours there. Sometimes I would climb it to get away from my little sister. Some days I liked to climb in the branches, sit, and read a book…” By hearing this, another person may think of their own childhood or experience climbing trees. This way of reminiscing is less threatening and allows a person living with Alzheimer’s or dementia to just listen or have more time, in a less stressful manner, to recall their own stories.

Reminiscing may often be done with minimal prompting, such as by including simple (not compound) questions, allowing the person to somewhat guide the conversation. RT can be enhanced by looking at photos, keepsakes, or old newspaper or magazine articles. Playing songs or clips from a movie or show that hold meaning to a person may jog their memory. A familiar scent or taste, such as through a person eating their favorite childhood recipe or smelling a loved one’s perfume, may allow them to journey back in time. Touching and feeling objects, such as a leaf or pine cone, a piece of fabric, or a marble, can encourage them to recall a time they interacted with similar objects in the past. Doing tactile activities that they have enjoyed when younger, such as painting, building models, or doing other crafts may make them recall past events.

Part of the idea is to allow a person to reminisce in a non-threatening way and without being overwhelmed. This may mean one day looking at a photograph to talk about the past. At another time play a favorite song from their youth. Then on another day share a favorite food and story (Such as while drinking milkshakes saying, “I sure love strawberry milkshakes. When I was a little girl, we would go to the soda fountain. I always loved strawberry, and my sister, Sue, always wanted chocolate. Do you like strawberry or chocolate better?...”). Try to keep sentences and questions shorter. If asking a question, keep it simple or provide two short options to choose from. Try to stay positive and allow the person to feel confidence in sharing what they choose to share.

How does LifeBio use Reminiscence Therapy?

LifeBio promotes positive brain health through interaction in a variety of ways. We are organized to record reminiscing in order to preserve memories, while increasing feelings of well-being and happiness. Our Reminiscence Therapy approach asks questions proven to bring out the best stories and key information, which can help a person share their legacy. We encourage inter-generational experiences. We help family members, staff, or volunteers have a better reason for or structure to visiting loved ones in assisted communities.

Our MyHelloLine offers weekly group calls for people coast to coast to dial in and share their incredible memories. We offer to match pairs of people for weekly calls, and we also have an option for us to provide weekly one-on-one check-in calls. We also have an online platform available for people to do recordings or type biographies. We offer journals with guiding reminiscent questions, and we have What’sYour Story? cards to use as conversation starters that anyone can use for ongoing engagement.

We encourage excellence in person-centered care, and we offer classes to expand communication on a variety of rich topics. We can also provide tools to aid care staff in their work. When working with resident communities, we can develop summaries and ideas of preferences and personalized ideas for care planning. This helps staff better know their residents to improve their quality of care, while also improving staff satisfaction too.

LifeBio’s Founder and CEO, Beth Sanders, summarizes it like this, “I truly believe that true person-centered care only happens when people feel they are deeply loved and valued in their community—whether they are staff members or residents. When people know more about each other (through sharing those unique and personal life stories), they can really become as close as family…maybe even closer. I know we can reach a new level of caring. Individual’s stories become like gold—especially as one ages and experiences loss. When older adults finally are given an opportunity to have someone really listen and help record their stories and wisdom, they feel a new sense of peace and happiness. What a gift.”

Let’s see how LifeBio can assist you and your loved ones in finding which Reminiscence Therapy approaches and materials can best serve you today. Check us out at https://www.lifebio.org/ online, email info@lifebio.com, or call 1-866-LIFEBIO (1-866-543-3246).

Sources:

https://www.lifebio.org/health-care-senior-living/research

https://eldercarealliance.org/blog/benefits-reminiscence-therapy/

https://dailycaring.com/4-ways-reminiscence-therapy-for-dementia-brings-joy-to-seniors/

StartUp Health Magazine Interview

2020-05-04T18:52:00.003-04:00

LifeBio CEO, Beth Sanders is interviewed by StartUp Health Magazine editor, Logan Plaster

Here is an interview between StartUp Health Magazine editor, Logan Plaster, and LifeBio's founder and CEO, Beth Sanders. Learn about LifeBio's new MyHelloLine service and how we are impacting COVID-19.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xd6ROFydQwQ&list=PLkzfu6hnQEQFR6ad_Gy5USyTDJ9lBbnz1&index=18&t=0s

A Tribute to Mothers

2020-04-30T00:05:00.001-04:00

As a four-year-old, when interviewed by my preschool teacher, this is how I described my mother:

My mommy works a lot, but I don’t know what. She just writes things down. I think she’s probably 31. Her favorite color is purple and pink, and her favorite food is pizza. She’s a good cook… sometimes! I like to go to meetings with her because I like to be with her. She’s pretty when she goes to meetings, and she’s not pretty when she’s wearing pants.

[As an aside to my mother: Your daughter, who is now the same age that you actually were when she said this, who likes to wear pants approximately 365 days of the year, whose husband would say she is also a good cook (sometimes!), would like to apologize for her naivety and judgments. On the flip-side, you are welcome that she shaved nearly a decade off your age. She is glad that 36 years later she still likes to be with you!]

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

While my preschool teacher was able to document my stream-of-consciousness babbling, as we get older it may be harder for us to put our own thoughts into words. It might be a challenge to organize our feelings or know where to start. If you were asked today to describe your mother, where would you begin?

Would you get sentimental thinking of the woman who carried you for nine months and then changed your diapers and bathed you? Would you start with childhood memories of how she helped you get dressed, fed you, and took you everywhere you needed to go? Would you talk about how she played with you or read stories to you, instilling your love for reading?

Instead of starting with your childhood, would you describe your mother’s personality? Would you more matter-of-factly talk about her, sharing about her family growing up or her professions in adulthood? Would you quote things she has been known to say repeatedly? Would you share a favorite memory you have of her?

Would you focus on writing through the senses? Would you describe her appearance? Would you recall her favorite perfume and smells? Would you write about the songs she used to sing to you? Would you share the recipes she cooked and baked for your family? Would you include pictures or artwork of her?

Might you take a different approach, looking back at things from an adult perspective? Would you describe some of the times she was there to support you or cheer you on? Would you share the lessons that she has taught you and talk about things she has passed down to you? Would you reflect on what you learned from her that you now try to instill in your own children?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As an adult, if asked about my mother, I might now say:

My mother is one of the strongest women I know. She has come through loss and hurt like a champion, which allowed her to be there to hold my hand when my best friend passed away in my teenage years. Even now that I am an adult living in a foreign country, I know my mother is always there for me. I am blessed to still have her as my biggest cheerleader in life!

My mother is intelligent, more so than she gives herself credit for, and she reads more than just about anyone I know. I am grateful that she instilled in me a love for learning and striving to find answers, starting with our weekly trips to the library when I was still a baby. While she only taught high school English for a few years prior to starting a family and staying home with her children, she has remained a lifelong educator and learner in other ways. She always pushes herself to learn more, and she loves to share her knowledge with others, such as when she volunteered to tutor immigrants at her community International Center.

A lover of the arts, she is always listening to music, singing, or humming. She taught me to love old musicals with her from a young age, and she supported my sister and me by attending every show choir competition we participated in during high school. She has always had a creative side and appreciated the beauty in life. Even with her appearance, she loves to wear bright colors and unique jewelry. She adds to the beauty of the earth through her garden and potted plants.

My mother has a generous and loving heart for service, which allows her to connect with a great diversity of people. When others might overlook a person, she will often take the time to have a conversation and get to know them. Without ever directly telling me how, her actions helped teach me many of the traits and skills I needed when I served three years as a missionary in an orphanage. My mom is typically slow to judge and quicker to defend people. She is a Christian woman and leads by quiet example, as she is humble. Over the years her patience has grown, and she often makes sacrifices, which allow others to flourish. It was more important to her to help provide for her children’s education or donate to worthy causes, before she would consider planning something like going on an extravagant vacation. She has said that if she ever won a large sum of money, some of her first considerations would be starting scholarships or a non-profit organization to help others.

I wish that my mother could see herself through the eyes of her family members and not judge herself as critically. She would see the woman we love so fiercely. She would see that she is more than enough. She would see the beauty we see in her. She would know the respect and admiration we hold so deeply for her. She would know that she gives some of the world’s best hugs, and that her advice is appreciated. She would know that, even when we don’t get to talk every day, she is thought of and missed. She would have confidence in seeing her true value and worth. She would see why I wish I could one day become even half the mother that she has been to me.

~by: Laurel LaFrance, LifeBio Story Teams Editor~

This May give the gift of making your mother's story a legacy!

At LifeBio, we would love to help you write about your mom, in whatever style best suits you. You can select from one of our many online templates to guide you. Or over the phone we can help record and tell your shared story. Or we can aid your mom in telling her autobiography. We have some journals and other creative Mother’s Day gifts available. Check us out and let us know how we can serve you today! You can find us online at https://www.lifebio.org/, via email at info@lifebio.com, or via telephone at 1-866-LIFEBIO (1-866-543-3246).

Six Questions to Ask Yourself While Isolated

2020-04-22T14:30:00.000-04:00

Do you or a loved one spend significant time alone on any given day? Right now with the COVID-19 pandemic, most people are practicing social distancing, self-isolation, or complete quarantine. However, even during other times of the year, you or someone you know may not have a great deal of social interaction with others. For example, you may live alone. You might know someone who lives in a nursing home or who is hospitalized. Perhaps you know an introvert who chooses to be alone more than with others. Or maybe in the winter you or your family members become housebound due to weather.

Spending significant time alone does not have to be a bad thing! Although, especially if a person does not wish to be socially isolated, spending time alone can lead to issues such as loneliness. If not dealt with in healthy ways, loneliness may lead to other health problems such as depression. Let's look at some positive things we can do while isolated to be good to our bodies, minds, and souls.

This is a great list of questions a person can ask oneself daily to help keep a healthy body and mind, while experiencing times of social isolation.

1) Who am I checking on or connecting with today?

Am I seeing someone in person?
Can I talk to my family on the telephone?
Should I leave a friend a message?
Will I video chat with someone?
Have I sent an email to a loved one?
Will I write a letter?
Have I visited or checked in with my neighbor today?

(For creative ideas to connect with others while isolated, see here.
For questions you could ask a person living with dementia via telephone, see here.)

2) How am I getting "outside" today?

Will I physically go somewhere?
Did I take a walk or a bike ride?
Have I worked in the garden or swept the front sidewalk?
Should I sit outside?
Can I watch birds or cars out the window?
Have I watered my houseplants or displayed a vase of flowers?
Can I look at photos of the outdoors or a nature program on TV?

3) How am I moving my body today?

Will I go for a walk?
Can I attend an exercise class or go to the gym?
Should I attempt a new workout video?
Have I tried chair yoga?
Will I work in the yard?
Can I clean or fix something in my room?
Did I get out of bed to go to lunch in the dining area?

4) How am I expressing my creativity today?

Am I playing music or singing?
Have I written in my journal?
Will I paint or draw?
Can I build something, like a birdhouse?
Will I attend an arts and crafts activity?
Should I fix something around my home?
Can I tell someone a story?

5) What type of self-care am I practicing today?

Did I bathe?
Can I get dressed, comb my hair, and brush my teeth today?
Have I taken my medication on time?
Do I have any doctor's appointments I need to attend?
Am I eating healthy?
Have I gotten enough (but not too much) sleep?
Did I meditate?

6) What am I grateful for today?

Can I list at least three things I am grateful for?
Did I pray and give thanks today?
Have I written in my gratitude journal?
Did I call or write to thank someone for thinking of me?
Have I said thank you to the people around me helping me today?
Can I smile or do something to show I am grateful?
Did I tell someone else at least one thing that I am thankful for today?

At LifeBio we would love to assist you in making connections with others through MyHelloLine. We can offer suggestions of things you might talk about with your friends and loved ones. We can aid you in creatively writing a biography. We can help you journal your faith, health, gratitude, or other stories. If you start with a free 14-day trial account, we can help you save photos, family trees, videos, and audio recordings. Reach out to see how we can best serve you today! Visit https://www.lifebio.org, call 1-866-543-3246, or email info@lifebio.com today.

Bringing Back the WAVE During COVID-19

2020-04-20T13:05:00.000-04:00

My road- Beth Sanders 2020

I live about seven minutes outside of Marysville, Ohio, a picture-perfect little town about 30 miles northwest of Columbus, Ohio, a dynamic and growing tech city.

Out here in Marysville, I actually live on the road less traveled. During these COVID-19 days, it seems to be even more quiet. When people are on my road, most likely they are my distant neighbors or close neighbors. I can hear the whistles of a freight train going by as I write this; maybe traveling from Chicago to Columbus.

Down Raymond Road a little ways towards town, there is a farmer that has waved at me every time I have ever passed him driving his car or a tractor on the road.

He waves so I can see it---he is always smiling too. I really don't know him, but I recognize that wave. He reminds me of my now deceased father---who always waved to me from the tractor. For the farmer on Raymond Road, I know that waving is important to him and it's part of country life. I am sure there was a time when he would have known every person that he was waving at. But nowadays, the "city slickers" from Columbus have moved into his territory; so he may or may not know each one. Still, that doesn't stop him from enthusiastically waving.

I met the farmer's daughter one time; she told me how much her dad loves when people smile and wave back. I waved before she told me this, but now I am really watching for him. I really wave! I really smile! I make sure he can see that I can see him. I want him to keep waving.

And that brings me to this thought. In the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, I feel compelled to wave to people I pass on the street, on the trail, with my bandana on at the post office, from a distance at the store. How weird that we can't touch each other. No handshakes. No hugs. No conversations. Maybe waving can make a comeback. It could work in big cities or small towns alike.

We can make eye contact, and we can acknowledge we see someone when we wave. I am here and you are here! You are an amazing person full of worth and an incredible life story. We are here together---hello my friend! That's what a wave can say. We can do it long distance or close up. We can do it with almost a simple salute or move our entire arms to say HELLO! I'm so glad to see you!

Prior to COVID-19, I really didn't think about waving to passing cars on my country road, but I am now really looking and waving when cars occasionally pass me as I am running or walking. We are so, so isolated. That wave to a passing car is more significant now. It may be one of that driver's only forms of human contact today. Mine too! I am not going to look down or ignore them as I did in the past. I am going to wave, like that farmer I know, and really mean it.

Hello! I am here and you are here. We are both alive and well today. Right now, that's something worth waving about.
______________________________________
Beth Sanders is the founder and CEO of LifeBio, a social engagement company, and MyHelloServices. Learn more at www.lifebio.org.

15 Creative Ideas To Stay Connected During Social Isolation

2020-04-14T02:02:00.000-04:00

How can you and your loved ones stay connected during social distancing and isolation? While the world is figuring out how to live through the COVID-19 pandemic, most people are having to self-distance or isolate. Even when the pandemic ends, sometimes people are isolated (whether by choice, based on where they live, from weather, due to transportation, or otherwise). Here are 15 unique ideas for how to still CONNECT with loved ones, even while being distanced or isolated.

1) SCAVENGER HUNT

It could be indoors at home, outdoors in a yard, or some of both. You could give participants a list of items to go in search of, or you could name one item at a time. Play individually or on teams. If participants aren't in the same place together, it could be over video conference, where the first person to present the requested item gets a point. (Sample prompts: Who can find something red? Be the first person to show a sock. Bring your favorite book. Find something older than you are. Show something with a duck.)

2) WINDOW ART and GAMES

Use dry erase markers or washable paint to do window art, such as making a stained glass window or drawing pictures. You could do this at home, or get permission to decorate the outside of a window of a loved one in a nursing home. You could also play games, such as tic tac toe, from opposite sides of a window. If you can't do this through a window, you might try doing it via dry erase board or pen and paper while video conferencing.

3) PLAY A GAME (VIA VIDEO CONFERENCE)
Play a game together. If all players are not physically together, use video conferencing and choose a game that all participants have pieces for, such as Yahtzee (where everyone just needs five dice). Play a game like Pictionary, where you just need something to draw with, even if over camera. Or play a game that requires no materials at all, like Charades, Twenty Questions, Name that Tune, or ask one another trivia questions.

4) SIDEWALK CHALK
Use sidewalk chalk to leave artwork and uplifting messages outside. A family can go outside to create messages together, or you can leave a surprise picture for a loved one to find outside their door, on their driveway or sidewalk, or by their mailbox. You can also create a "Chalk Walk" of things to do, such as spin in a circle, jump, frog hop five times, skip, walk sideways, hopscotch, and more! If you live in a neighborhood, maybe in time each house could add to the chalk walk.

5) READ TO EACH OTHER

Read a book or a chapter of a book to one another. Or choose a magazine or newspaper article to share. Share a favorite story, or try to find the funniest article to make someone laugh out loud. This can also be a fun way to have an adult read a child a bedtime story or have a child practice their reading skills with a grown up, whether in person, over phone, or video conferencing. Even if a child cannot yet read, let them use a story book to either tell a story they already know or to get creative and make up a story based on the pictures.

6) SHOW AND TELL

Show a favorite object (such as a stuffed animal, a toy, a book, sports equipment, a picture, or more) and tell about why it is special to you. You could also share artwork or an assignment a child did for school. Children could show their favorite object from their Easter basket. Even if you don't have an object to share, you can talk about your favorite movie, book, song, or memory. You can do this in person, with video, or just talking on the telephone.

7) WRITE LETTERS OR MAKE CARE PACKAGES

Write letters to someone you care about. Children can draw pictures to include, or you can print actual photos to send. You can also consider making a care package, and include things like snacks, a magazine or book, a stuffed animal or toy, a puzzle, a journal, something to craft with like yarn or stickers, or a coloring book. Then mail or drop off for the recipient. You never know, maybe the recipient will write you back!

8) MAKE MUSIC
Play songs on the stereo to listen to or dance together, even if over the telephone. Play an instrument for someone else to listen to or play along. Sing songs together. Guess what song the other person is playing or humming. Share your favorite song. Look up your favorite music online to listen to together. Have children make instruments to play using common household items. Write song lyrics together as a family.

9) SHARE MEMORIES

LifeBio What's Your Story?
cards available here.

Ask questions and share your favorite memories. Let kids ask what they want to know from adults, such as funny stories from when the adults were young. Family members can share family history. Recall memories together, or share stories others have never heard before. This can be done whether in person, via telephone, over email, or videos. (Sample prompts: What did you enjoy doing most with your grandparents? Where did you grow up? Who is your best friend, and what do you do together? What is/was your favorite school subject? Do you play sports or an instrument? Tell me about your favorite holiday or celebration.) If you are interested in recording you and your loved one's memories, we can help here!

10) SCHOOL WORK
Help one another with school work. Adults can help teach new concepts. Children can show work they have done. Grown ups or older relatives can check answers to homework. Kids can practice reading aloud, saying math tables, spelling words aloud, or explain what they learned. Family members can quiz one another with trivia questions about subjects being studied.

11) PHOTOS

Look at family photo albums together, and talk about what was happening in various pictures. Take portraits of your family members. Get someone to take your family "porch-trait" (that's a portrait on your porch) from afar. See who can take the silliest selfie or the prettiest picture outside your house. Send or email pictures to friends and loved ones. Make a scrapbook page together, or put printed photos into an album. Choose your favorite picture to have printed to frame and later display. Use a photo to make a fun craft or to gift to someone else.

12) PICNIC
Have a picnic together, even if it is on a blanket in your living room. If you can, go outside on a patio, to a picnic table, or a park. If you can't be physically together, take a picnic outside a loved one's window, such as on their back deck, while they eat inside their house and talk through the window. Or get permission to drop off food for a loved one in a nursing home, and then sit in lawn chairs to talk to them outside through their window.

13) PRAY

Pray together and for each other, even if over telephone or video. Pray for other loved ones who are not with you. Share prayer requests, or write them in a prayer journal. Teach someone a prayer you know, or recite a prayer you know together. Read a scripture together. Share a song of prayer. Give thanks together. Share a moment of quiet meditation. Go for a family drive, and pray over different locations (schools, houses, businesses, parks, places of worship, and more) or people.

14) PARADE

Hold a parade, whether for your family in your house or outside. Maybe wear funny costumes. Make signs, carry balloons, or wave streamers and flags. Throw candy or leave goodie bags for others, if you can. If someone plays an instrument, maybe they could march and play, or blare music from a cell phone or boombox. Decorate a wagon to pull along as a float. Kids can decorate and ride their bikes. Walk your pets with you. Parade past neighbors' houses. Or call other friends to get a driving caravan to have a parade through a neighborhood, for someone's birthday, or past a nursing home.

15) A DAY AT THE "MUSEUM"

Create a museum tour within your house. Take turns guiding others past art work and photos hanging on the walls. Have children create artwork, such as drawings, paintings, or Lego creations to display. They can show off their school photos. Describe garden statues or decorative items within the house, like vases or maps. Who can find the oldest item or something historical to share on their guided tour? Dress up and act like wax statues of famous people. Or make it like a science museum and do hands-on experiments. See who can give the most informed, the longest, or the funniest descriptions when it's their turn to be tour guide. If you aren't together in person, give someone a virtual tour via video conference.

**BONUS**
Additionally, if you'd like to work on telling your or a loved one's life story, especially while you're socially isolated, we can help. We have a variety of options online, via telephone, or otherwise to share your biographies. Start with a free 14-day trial, before you decide if you want to upgrade to a month or longer account. You can also save audio recordings, videos, photos, and other uploaded documents like family trees. You can print your biography for free or request a story be printed in a bound book. We also have a MyHelloLine program, where we can call weekly to check in with your loved one, or people can call to participate in weekly toll-free group calls at no charge. We have other items available for purchase too, such as journals, What's Your Story? cards, or gifting memberships. Contact us today to let us know how we can best serve you!

Find us online at https://www.lifebio.org , via email at info@lifebio.com, or by telephone at 1-866-543-3246.

How to Tell a Life Story

2020-04-09T04:48:00.000-04:00

Do you want to document the life story of a loved one, such as a grandparent or parent? Are you ready to share your own life story? Do you want to record your child answering questions as they grow older, to see how their answers develop with time? Do you want the ability to save photos, your family tree, and even audio recordings of your family members sharing memories? Wouldn’t it be great if you could do all of this in one place? Now you CAN!

Are you wondering how to start? Do you want to know where this is possible?

You can use LifeBio! We can help you online, via telephone and email, or more. Choose the option that will work best for you and your loved ones.

We provide an online biography system to help you through the storytelling process. You can choose from a variety of topic templates—such as telling your life story, your love story, a veteran’s story, and more. Then we offer a thorough range of prompts so that you don’t leave unanswered questions for your family someday. You can choose to answer the questions best suited to you. You can write as short or as long of answers as you wish for each prompt, or you can skip questions you don’t want to answer.

With your online account you can write multiple stories for multiple people. You can save your answers and then log out. You can log in again to add more over time. You can easily move from question to question or one person’s biography to another.

As you build your own story, you have the option to insert photos and select your favorite border. If you wish, you can choose to print your book from home or contact us to help you make a bound book. The key is to do what works best for you and your loved ones.

If you interview and record family members, you can save the audio file to listen to again in the future. Imagine preserving interviews with your grandparents or parents to one day share with your own children or grandchildren! What a lasting treasure that could be!

Writing a life story is important for you and your family. Your family wants to you know, and you can learn all about them. Record your story while you can, before you have any regrets. This is your chance to say what matters most to the people you love and to create a lasting legacy!

For a more detailed description and tutorial to using our website to create your biography, click here.

It’s as easy as visiting http://www.lifebio.com and signing up for a FREE trial. Start a biography, and watch an amazing story unfold. We suggest you eventually upgrade to a full or lifetime membership, but try it out first and see how you like it! If you have any questions about writing your story, please call us at 1-866-LIFEBIO (1-866-543-3246) or email info@lifebio.com.

LifeBio Very Detailed Tutorial with Pictures

2020-04-09T04:38:00.006-04:00

Using LifeBio is as easy as 1, 2, 3…

That being said, if you would have any questions, problems, or need assistance with any of these steps, please contact us on our website at www.lifebio.com or via email at info@lifebio.com, or call us at 1-866-543-3246.

1) GO TO WEBSITE

In your online browser, go to https://www.lifebio.com. (Or just click this link.)

2) SIGN UP AND LOG IN

You can sign up for free a 14-day Trial account, or login here once you already have an account set up.

If you are signing up for an account, enter the information requested in the provided blanks (such as your email address, creating a password, your title, your first name, etc.). Use your mouse to left click on a blank and enter information, or hit the Tab button to move from one blank to the next blank. Once you have completed all the blanks, click enter or “Create”.

If you need help setting up an account, call us at 1-866-543-3246 or email info@lifebio.com.

Once you have an account set up, log in by entering your Email Address or username ID and Password. Be sure to click enter or “Log in”.

3) CREATE A NEW STORY

Then it’s time to start writing a biography or an autobiography. First find the Stories column, and click on “CREATE A NEW STORY”.

4) CHOOSE TYPE OF STORY

Then choose which type of story you want to tell, by selecting one of our Stories options (such as Capture Your Story, Life Story Journal, or Veterans Story). You can read each story's description underneath its name. If you click "Write a Story" you can start a story in order to see all the questions contained in that particular story template. We often suggest starting with the About Me Journal (second one down in the right hand column), if you are unsure where to begin.

5) START A NEW STORY

To start a new story, you will be asked to type a Title and Author(s). Then click enter or “>Next”.

6) TYPE STORY

That will take you to the template where you can start typing a life story. To move from question to question, left mouse click on the numbers above. In the text box provided below, type your answer.

You can type as short or as long of an answer as you like. Here is a sample.

Here is another longer sample.

If you don’t want to answer any questions, just leave them blank, and move on to the next question.

The website automatically saves your work every 15 seconds. You can also click on one of the three SAVE buttons from time to time, or before advancing from one question to another. All three buttons do the same thing, so it does not matter which you click.

As you type, you can use the onscreen menu buttons to change font styles, such as bold, italics, or underlined. You can also do things like insert bullet-point lists or spell check for errors. You do not have to use any of these options, if you do not wish to.

7) UPLOAD MEDIA (optional)

You can (but you absolutely do NOT have to, if you do not wish to or are unable to) upload audio files, video files, pictures, and other files to your personal online media gallery. First click on the green “MEDIA GALLERY” button in the upper right corner. Then that will bring you to a screen similar to this.

Then choose the type of file you want to upload from under the folders list on the left (Audio, Video, Pictures, or Documents).

Once you are in the folder type you want, click on upload. This will pop up a box for you to search for the file you want to upload from your computer. Once you have found the file, double click to open and upload it to your LifeBio Media Gallery Folder.

You will see the progress bar fill up with blue, as the file uploads. This is a sample of uploading an audio file.

Once the file is complete, you will see an icon for it in your folder on your screen.

You can do the same thing to upload videos or photos. This is a sample for uploading a photo.

You can also upload other documents. Documents will store any pdf or doc files, such as for family trees or typed documents. This sample shows uploaded pdf and doc files.

8) INSERT PHOTOS INTO STORY

There are a couple of ways to insert photos. First you need to have the photos saved in your Media gallery, as explained above. The easiest way is for you to then upload and insert photos to your story, and then allow the website to automatically put the photos at the end of the question where you insert them.

First you will need to be on the question/answer where you want the picture inserted (in this sample, the photo is being inserted with question number 5). Then click on the “ADD PHOTO” button in the upper right corner of the menu bar.

That will pop up an “Add your Photo” box. You will need to click on the bottom “Upload Photo from my gallery” button.

Then you’ll need to click the top green button on the right that says “Open Gallery”.

This will pop up a box with all the photos you have saved to your Media Gallery. Double click on the photo you want to insert.

This should now show the name of the photo file you selected. Click the middle green button on the right that says “Add”.

This will pop up a box that says “www.lifebio.com says Your Photo was added successfully. See My Photos below.” Click the blue “OK” button.

Repeat that process if you have multiple photos that you want to insert. Once you have inserted all of the photos for that question, click the bottom green button on the right that says “CLOSE”.

Once you have inserted photos, you can see them listed below your typed answer, by clicking on the “MY PHOTOS” button underneath the text. Here is where you can click to insert a caption for your photo, if you wish, but you do not have to give each photo a caption. Be sure to click on SAVE after inserting photos and captions.

The more challenging way to insert photos is where you do everything as stated above, but you can also choose to insert your uploaded photos between or with the text of your online story. To do that, you will need an [[IMAGE]] button where you want the photo to be inserted. To do that, put the cursor where you want the photo to go within text. Then click the yellow [P] button, which will insert the [[IMAGE]] in your text for you.

This will pop up a box that says “Insert Image Position”. Click the green “OK” button.

This will then insert the [[IMAGE]] button within your text for you. You do not need extra lines or spaces above, below, or beside the [[IMAGE]].

9) BORDERS, PRINT PREVIEW, AND PRINTING

In order to see a print preview of your story, or to actually print your story, click on the red “PRINT & ORDER” button on the upper right side.

Select which border (or “No Border”) you would like printed on each page of your book. Each page will have the same border, as you cannot vary from page to page.

In order to print preview, you will first need to select the title of your story (this example is named “SAMPLE”), and then drag and drop that story to the right. As you are dragging it, a green box will appear underneath it on the right, and then it will turn back to white with just the book name listed.

Then you will need to click on “CREATE PREVIEW”.

It will take a few seconds to a minute, but then it will give you the option to “Open PDF” of your book or “open your Story as a web page”.

If you are going to print your book yourself, you could do so from the pdf or web page version.

To get started today, please contact us on our website at www.lifebio.org, via email at info@lifebio.com, or call us at 1-866-543-3246.

What if you aren't "tech savvy"? If typing your own story and inserting pictures isn't for you, we have other options available. If you would like to discuss other methods, such as submitting a handwritten story for LifeBio to type or having a biographer call to interview you and write your story, get in touch today!

Untold Stories

2020-04-02T17:26:00.000-04:00

A Unique Story

You are special. You are a wonderful and unique individual. You are who you are because of the people, places, and events that have influenced your life. Your interpretation of those experiences creates your world view. While there are some remarkable historical events that we have shared, your part is unique to you. People want to know your story!

An Untrue Story

Perhaps you have fallen prey to the myths and lies. Perhaps you have thought you don’t know where to start. Perhaps you feel like you just don’t know how. Perhaps you have thought you lacked assistance to share your story. Perhaps you think you are not a good writer. Perhaps you believe it will be expensive to share your story. Perhaps you feel your story isn’t worth sharing. Perhaps you have thought you didn’t have the time to tell your story. If any of these sound familiar, perhaps you have been misguided.

A Reminiscent Story

Everyone can tell their story, yes, even YOU! Reminiscing has been proven to be beneficial to your health. Remembering can help you look back and see things come together in the bigger picture. Recollecting can bring happy memories. Recalling can remind you of the hardships you have overcome and allow you to see how you have grown. Ruminating can help underscore your purpose in life. The great part is that you do not have to go at it alone! LifeBio is here to help you every step of the way!

A Personalized Story

LifeBio was created to help every person tell their story, in their own way. We work with you to come up with the right way to tell your story. We help you consider your particular circumstances. Some people like to write longhand, and then we type their book for them. Others prefer to type their own story using our online template. For others a personal biographer who contacts them via phone call is the better choice. Regardless of what manner is best suited to you, we cannot think of a more rewarding job than helping you tell your story!

A Simple Story

It really is as easy as a phone call or a computer click. Just call LifeBio toll free at 1-866-543-3246 . We can walk you through the options available to choose the right solution for you. Or you can visit us at www.lifebio.com to check out our online biography options and see samples of other people’s stories. You can even start with a 14-day free trial today!

You have lived your life as the storyMAKER. Now it’s time to be your storyTELLER! Let us help you tell your story today.

15 Questions You Could Ask a Person Living With Dementia Over the PHONE

2020-03-20T18:00:00.001-04:00

It may seem tough to communicate with a person living with Alzheimer's Disease or other related dementias by phone. Here are two tips for starters.

Share your own story or memory first because a person living with dementia may “play off” of that. Talk about what you saw when you were walking outside this morning. Share about the dew on the grass, the puddle you stepped in, or the song a bird was singing. A normal conversation is what everyone is seeking, and you can start. Paint a picture as you share—use all the senses.
Details really DON’T matter all the time. Example: I remember having a conversation with a man in a secure memory care area, who loved telling me about his wedding day. He could describe what his bride was wearing, what color his suit was, how hot the church was, and how wonderful it was. He did not recall when or where it was. But it sure didn’t matter. We spoke for an hour. I could see this working on the phone too.

Here are 15 questions that I think could work on the PHONE. I adapted these especially as I was thinking about being on the PHONE with someone with dementia.

When I was a little kid, we would always go to __________ with my friends. I used to ride my bike a lot. Did you like riding a bike?
Did your car or truck ever breakdown? What happened? I’ll tell you, one time this happened to me….
My grandmother made the best __________ (kind of food). Do you like this too? Was your grandmother a good cook? How ‘bout your mom or dad? (Food is always a good topic!)
I played __________ (sport) in school. Did you like to play that sport too?
I remember being on a farm when I was a kid. We had __________ (animals, crops). I liked the farm. Were you ever on a farm?
I used to go shopping at __________ (store). Did you ever go shopping there? The other day I went to the store and I bought __________....
My pet __________ is sitting right here. Do you know what color he is? __________. Do you have a pet? I had a pet __________, named __________, when I was little. He used to run away all the time….
What’s one of your favorite things to do at the center? Is it when there is music, or do you like the crafts better? Do you have a favorite song? Do you have a favorite craft?
One time I went on an airplane. I went to __________. Have you done a lot of traveling? Do you like to travel? (Maybe they will share about a work trip or a vacation.)
I haven’t asked you about your work before. Can you tell me about your work at __________? (Hopefully you know something about the kind of work he/she did at home, volunteer, and/or paid employment).
I know you love your kids and grandkids. I thought I would tell you a funny story about my son/daughter. Back in 1977....
One of my favorite movies is __________. Have you seen it? Do you like that one? I like how there is that funny part….
I got the newspaper this morning. It reminded me that I used to deliver the newspaper. Did you ever do that?….
I am wondering if you’d ever like to travel to outer space. I think it would be scary. How about you?
I’m looking out my window. I see some tulips out there, and I also see…. What do you see?

You may like some other ideas for conversations with a person living with dementia. Here is a link to the What's Your Story? cards available from LifeBio.

Social Distancing is Tough. Great Ideas to Stay Engaged and Use Your Free Time Effectively.

2020-03-17T06:00:00.000-04:00

What are negative effects of social distancing?

A common phrase amidst the responses to the spreading Coronavirus (Covid-19) is social distancing. This means some schools now have extended spring breaks. Sporting events, concerts, and other activities are canceled. Many public places like libraries, movie theaters, casinos, and churches are temporarily closing. In some places eat-in restaurants are shut down for the time being. People are encouraged to stay home and avoid contact with others, to slow the spread of the contagion.

This leads some to believe that the Coronavirus may cause a loneliness epidemic. “We need to take both social distancing and the ‘social recession’ it will cause seriously,” states Vox author Ezra Klein. Social isolation is a real threat, as it can carry detrimental effects. Some symptoms may start more mildly, such as with insomnia and tiredness. Isolation may lead some to misuse substances. It can elevate blood pressure. Loneliness can worsen other illnesses and cause unwanted weight loss or gain. Loneliness can also cause mental detriment. Social isolation can increase the chance of developing anxiety, depression, dementia, and other mental illnesses.

So what are we to do in a time of "Social Distancing" to stay healthy? Here are some GREAT ideas!

There are things you can do to stay physically healthy while socially isolated. Some suggestions are the same as what is encouraged even when not isolated—eat a healthy diet and exercise. It is also recommended to get adequate sleep, but not excessively with regularity.

With extended free-time alone, it can be a good time to try out that healthy recipe that sounds delicious. You could attempt a new yoga workout, lift hand weights, or work in the yard. Go to sleep at a reasonable hour or take a nap in the afternoon.

While isolated, keep your mind healthy by thinking positively. Then you might consider learning something new. Study a topic you are interested in or try to master a new skill. You are encouraged to invest more time in your hobbies. Explore your faith more and lean in to your spiritual life to help you through this time. Think outside yourself on how you can call someone or send a card to brighten someone else's day. Give back in any way you can.

Focus on the positive. Rejoice in extra free time or bask in a moment of quiet. Enjoy a cup of tea. Use this as the perfect time to take up woodworking. Watch an online tutorial to learn to crochet. Figure out how to play a new game. Then take time to do what you already enjoy doing. Crank up the music on the stereo. Paint. Assemble a puzzle. Tend to your potted plants. Go for a bike ride. Read a book!

Use isolated time to make yourself proud by tackling the project you have been wanting to do. Or help your loved ones with their honey-do lists. Paint the bedroom. Reorganize the shelves. Clean the windows. Oil the squeaky door hinges.

Perhaps one of the most important suggestions to curb loneliness while isolated is to still interact with others. This may mean face-to-face with family members or close friends. When physical contact is limited, you can still communicate over the telephone and computer.

Image by Sabine van Erp

How to have meaningful interaction?

Reach out to your loved ones now to ease their isolation. Stop in to visit them if you can. Call them. Video message them online. Then repeat.

Why not use this time to get to know your own family and friends better? Play a game together. Look at family photo albums. Go for a walk. Research your family tree and share stories about your grandparents. Bake Aunt Agnes’ cookie recipe. Find your favorite songs online and sing them together. Dance in the kitchen. Have the more in-depth conversation you have been meaning to have.

This time of social isolation could be perfect to ask the questions you have not thought to ask in the past. Ask open-ended (not just yes or no) questions to keep conversation flowing. Make a recording of elderly loved ones telling their life stories to pass on to future generations.

LifeBio recommends trying these conversation starters (whether in person or on the phone):

What is your favorite childhood or school memory?
What have you learned from your work experience?
How did you meet your spouse? When and where did you get married?
Who is someone that impacted your life and how?
What brings you joy and why?
What do you want to pass on to others? (Advice, photos, recipes, belongings?)

Humans are social creatures not meant to always be alone. Eric Carmen knew this when he sang, “All by myself, Don’t wanna be, All by myself, Anymore…” Even in the midst of social isolation, let’s come together to evade the socialization epidemic.

Then let us know in the comments below how it goes. Or share other great ideas to beat loneliness during isolation.

For help with connecting, reach out to us.

Online at https://www.lifebio.com

Email info@lifebio.com

Telephone 1-866-LIFEBIO (1-866-543-3246) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST

Image by Tumisu

NOTE: Does social isolation equate with loneliness?

According to Yolanda Williams, a Psychology and Ethics instructor with a PhD in philosophy, social isolation is having little or no contact with other people, and it usually lasts for extended periods of time. Whereas loneliness is an emotional state where individuals are not satisfied with their social connections, and it can be temporary or last longer. A person who experiences social isolation may or may not also experience loneliness.

That's What It's All About

2020-03-13T17:53:00.000-04:00

As a child did you ever put your right leg in and put your right leg out? Surely at a wedding or some gathering you have put your right leg in and shaken it all about. Have you done the Hokey Pokey and turned yourself about? Some say that’s what it’s all about.

While most of us would now agree that the Hokey Pokey is not actually what it is all about, there are some things the Hokey Pokey may have gotten right. First of all, it is a song and dance about movement. We recognize the importance of moving our bodies. We have all heard the health impacts of exercise and diet. We know about the benefits for our physical bodies, and we are learning more about how a healthy diet and exercise also improve our cognitive functions.

Do you remember the last verse of the Hokey Pokey? It sings, “Put your whole self in…” It involves our whole beings. Many studies are now showing how other factors impact our overall health, more than just our diet and exercise. Our whole body and being plays a role. This especially includes our mental health.

Image by Kees Koertshuis

Some researchers are now focusing on the importance of staying mentally active to keep a healthy brain. What are some activities that can encourage healthy mental engagement? Perhaps the more obvious include reading and writing. Participating in group discussions also stimulates your brain. Other ways involve doing crossword puzzles or playing board games or card games. Playing music further enhances a healthy brain. Keeping our brains healthy can be fun, so keep singing, “That’s what it’s all about!”

A recent Harvard Health Publication tells of the importance of social interaction on health and longevity. Evidence shows that social connections may play as strong a role as diet and exercise in protecting memory and cognitive function. Social connections aid in decreasing loneliness and depression. Connectivity can lower stress levels, and it encourages us to engage our mental processes. Being social can delay the onset of dementia and lower the risk of Alzheimer’s.

Image by David Schwarzenberg

LifeBio is here to help you. That’s what we’re all about! We increase social connectedness though MyHelloLine. You have the opportunity to Capture Your Story by joining our group phone calls or video conferences. We use our LifeBio Reminiscence Therapy Methods to talk about the past, present, and future. Additionally, we can match individuals with other individuals to have weekly one-on-one telephone calls. We also offer to have professional MyHelloLine personnel make check-in calls with people at risk of social isolation and loneliness. We want to be you or your loved one’s loneliness intervention.

For motivation to mentally engage through writing, our journals can inspire you with prompts of 14, 25, 73, or even 200 questions. You can also write your story with us online. Stimulate your mind by reading biographical stories on our LifeBio website. To enhance your own conversations, check out our What’s Your Story Cards. We want to aid you in discussing your memories, experiences, and life lessons. Let us help connect you today!

Online at https://www.lifebio.com
Email info@lifebio.com
Telephone 1-866-LIFEBIO (1-866-543-3246) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST

Fostering Friendships, Lessening Loneliness

2020-03-02T17:46:00.000-05:00

Picture by Cheryl Holt

How do we make new friendships? When we were younger, it may have felt easier to make friends. Many of us first met our friends through our neighborhood, school, college, or place of worship. With time, as many people get into relationships and start families, we may meet friends through commonalities such as other young couples or new parents.

Some friendships may be built through work relationships or having similar interests, such as attending the same gym or supporting a common cause.

However, as people age, it can become more challenging to maintain or even make new friendships. With aging, retirement, moving, or possibly even growing sick and having acquaintances pass away, there can be challenges in keeping the same personal connections.

These changes often lead to loneliness. One in three U.S. adults 45 and older are lonely, according to a 2018 survey by the AARP Foundation.

Loneliness Risk Factors

“Loneliness may be even more deadly than obesity or smoking 15 cigarettes a day,” stated a 2017 report by the American Psychological Association.

Psychology Today reports that loneliness may also lead to other health issues. Those health concerns include cardiovascular problems, anxiety, depression, and even premature mortality. Loneliness can cause cognitive and creativity decline. It may lead to problems with adequate sleeping. Other studies are starting to link loneliness with Type 2 diabetes, arthritis, dementia, and Alzheimer’s. Loneliness can also cause higher cortisol (the stress hormone) levels and compromise the immune system.

When country musician Hank Williams sang, “I’m so lonesome I could cry,” he had good reason. Loneliness is no joke, particularly when chronic loneliness can lead to premature death.

Friendship Eases Loneliness

What can we do about the growing loneliness epidemic? The good news is that fostering relationships can help ease the problems.

"Social networks and friendships not only have an impact on reducing the risk of mortality or developing certain diseases, but they also help individuals to recover when they do fall ill,” report the Campaign to End Loneliness and the Institute of Health Equity.

Picture by Wolfgang Eckert

Working to develop meaningful and positive friendships can help save and lengthen lives. According to Health Prep, three elements to fostering a good friendship include positivity, consistency, and vulnerability. A good relationship should have an average of five positive feelings for everyone one negative. Both friends involved need to regularly make an effort to connect. The amount that both parties are willing to share with each other can also deepen and strengthen their bond.

Friendships can be further enhanced when both people understand the art of giving and taking. While each friend may at times need more, at other times they should be giving more. Body language and eye contact can support honesty between friends. Practicing the art of listening and expressing gratitude can also encourage a positive and nurturing relationship.

How does LifeBio help?

There is nothing like natural storytelling to build friendships. We all have so many things to share, especially as we gain experience through a lifetime. There are powerful ways over the phone and in face-to-face groups to reduce loneliness. If you are an organization or a family that is seeking to reduce loneliness for an older loved one, please reach out to us. We can suggest some great ideas using reminiscence therapy and natural life storytelling as a loneliness intervention.

As the old AT&T jingle goes... "Reach out, reach out and touch someone." We absolutely agree. That's just what we are doing. If people are homebound or would like to make a friend, we are building ways to make that a reality. There is always someone out there that needs to hear your voice or word of assurance or caring too.

Picture by skeeze

LifeBio's MyHelloLine service are here to connect seniors from around the United States. We have setup one-on-one visits with seniors who have something in common. We also coordinate group phone calls with seniors sharing their stories together with remarkable results; this program is called Capture Your Story.

At LifeBio, we love to foster friendships and lessen loneliness. We value you and believe everyone needs a friend and has a story to tell. We can assist you and the special people in your life with making connections and sharing your stories. To get connected or for more information, please contact us:

Online at https://www.lifebio.com
Via email at info@lifebio.com
Via telephone at 1-866-LIFEBIO (1-866-543-3246) or 937-303-4576 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST.

Sweet Talk (Reminiscing about Valentine's Days past)

2020-02-13T16:18:00.000-05:00

(Picture by Jill Wellington on Pixabay)

I grew up in a family with three daughters. While you might think that this would mean our home had an excess of shoe boxes pass through it, that never seemed to be the case in time for Valentine’s Day. More than one year we had to search for enough boxes for all three of us girls to decorate for our Valentine’s parties. I recall once even removing all the Kleenex from the box in the bathroom, in order to decorate it for my class party. (My father may have been less enthused to later discover the piles of Kleenex I left askew on the back of the toilet.)

For me it was always such fun to cut construction paper hearts and draw my Valentine’s decorations. Looking back, my creativity paled in comparison to the masterpieces you can find posted online these days. Nevertheless, it was a special treat to get to let my creative juices flow while making a mess of art supplies at the kitchen table.

I also remember the joy in signing notes that I planned to distribute to each of my friends at school. Although the later the night wore on, as I grew tired of writing, my enthusiasm may have started to dwindle temporarily.

Then on Valentine’s Day morning I would proudly tote my Valentine's box to compare with my neighbors as we all waited for the school bus. Once we arrived at school, oh how we would wait with such anticipation for our class party! We could hardly contain our excitement until it was time to go around the room placing our Valentine’s in each other’s uniquely crafted boxes. Then how we loved getting to see what kinds of Valentines we received that year—would there be any with candy attached or from a secret admirer?

Growing up, each year my sisters and I were blessed to always know how special we were. In addition to bringing chocolates and flowers for my mother, my dad always gave each of us girls our own small boxes of chocolates or candy hearts. He also included a card telling us how much he loved us. As an adult I now recognize just how fortunate I was to have my father. He set the bar high for what I should expect in my future spouse!

Now I look forward to celebrating Valentine’s Day by sharing dinner with my husband. He often gifts me with flowers too. Then we look forward to buying discounted candy the day after Valentine’s Day.

What are your favorite Valentine’s Day memories? Did you ever give a card to your secret crush? Have any of your family members kept any vintage Valentine’s? Do you know anyone who has gotten engaged or married on Valentine’s Day? What is the funniest Valentine pun you remember? How did your parents or your family celebrate Valentine's Day in years past? Please enlighten us in the comment section below.

At LifeBio we love to help people reminisce and record their favorite memories. We value you and believe your story should be told. We can assist you in sharing the memories of your loved ones too. Or perhaps you have your own Love Story to tell. (We can also help, if you're looking for a unique Valentine's Day gift for a loved one!)

Happy Valentine's Day!

--Laurel LaFrance, Story Team Editor, LifeBio

Visit us at https://www.lifebio.org/

Remembering Our Loved Ones is Powerful and Important

2020-02-04T07:19:00.001-05:00

I watched Google's ad called "Loretta" with great interest during the Super Bowl. It tugged at my heartstrings and probably yours as well. Why perhaps?

Like Loretta, there are people who have been in our lives (or are still in our lives today) who are precious and memories of them are priceless. We felt for Loretta's husband as he sweetly recalled their incredible times together.
We all have a great human need to reminisce and to remember. Loretta is worth remembering! Special times in our memories can bring us joy as they did for him. Also, sometimes we are concerned that our children or grandchildren will forget or never know about this special person who came before them.

Not too surprisingly, I've had people say to me..."That Google ad reminded me of LifeBio." This ad has raised awareness of these important issues that we ALL share. Great human needs.

It's exciting that voice solutions could make recording and recalling easier, and this ad was a great acknowledgment that LifeBio has been "on" to something for years with detailed, complete, rich stories and video recordings and audio recordings of thousands of everyday, "ordinary" extraordinary people who have passed away or are still living on this earth.

I'm incredibly grateful that LifeBio helps people have the chance to capture remembrances and feel as the man in the Google ad did for Loretta. People express these emotions to us every day. What a gift that LifeBio has been able to help keep so many stories safe and "captured." We will continue to do so, using the latest advancements which will make the process easier over time.

And....It's our experience that people have far more than a 30-60 second recording or a few lines of text to share about their loved ones and a few quick sentences. People pour out their hearts. It's our experience that people have detailed, lengthy, interesting stories and photos that are worth thousands of words. So here we are capturing all that.

LifeBio is making it possible for people like you to share the complexity of the human experience. The joys, the challenges, the relationships, the work, the play, the lessons learned, and more are all woven in to the STORY.

This is far beyond just photos saved online or daily social media updates. It's far beyond just a few voice recordings.

The people in our life are priceless, and we want to record and remember how they made us feel. That's a big part of each of our own life stories.

--Beth Sanders, Founder and CEO, LifeBio Visit www.lifebio.com

What if your story is my medicine and my story is yours?

2020-01-18T18:55:00.000-05:00

By Beth Sanders, founder & CEO of LifeBio

What if your story is my medicine and my story is yours? Story is medicine. It touches the soul. Story is a powerful tool to bring people together. When I hear your story, I walk in your shoes and experience feelings of caring and empathy. When you walk in my shoes, I can unburden myself from the problems of the day or relay my hopes, my feelings, or my emotions. Together, we may make each other laugh or cry. Another human being is a challenge to listen to and to understand. Every person has a story to tell, and every person benefits from both listening and being listened to.

Reminiscence therapy is a therapeutic strategy to promote personhood. Reminiscence therapy (RT) is a therapeutic technique that elicits recall of past events, activities, and memories through the use of tangible aids, such as photographs, familiar items from the past, music. Long held memories of personal importance remain easily accessible for most people and they become the basis for incredible personal storytelling.

RT thrives on interaction between people which creates an inclusive environment for stimulation and socialization. Life story work —one of the most widely adopted forms of reminiscence therapy— seeks to help patients and caregivers record and embed these stories into a senior care or healthcare system to increase the quality of personalized care and to improve interactions.

Recent evidence suggests that life story work in general may help staff develop a deeper understanding of nursing home (NH) residents’ backgrounds and increase residents’ satisfaction with care. More widely, it can also enhance relationships among staff, residents, and family members because the life stories can enable resident identities and preferences to be incorporated into everyday care regimens.

In addition, preliminary quantitative and qualitative evidence suggests that life story work can have positive influences on residents’ psychosocial outcomes, such as increased overall Quality of Life, decreased depression, enhanced autobiographical memory, and improved relationships with formal and informal caregivers and family members. However, inconsistent application, measurement variations, weak study designs, and inadequate reporting of study information make generalizing findings across studies difficult.

LifeBio's Reminiscence Therapy Method offers online software, telehealth approaches (1 on 1 and in groups), physical journals, class materials, and other life enrichment and engagement tools for organizations, caregivers, and health care providers. LifeBio’s system is deployed to record the life histories of people reaching advanced age or facing life-threatening illnesses or memory loss. For each participant, LifeBio creates a Life Story Book, a tailored 1-page Snapshot summary designed to be displayed in the living environment, and an Action Plan that lists participants’ preferences along with personalized suggestions for providing person-centered care.

Results from preliminary studies support that LifeBio helps staff learn important personal information about older adults in their care. Access to the LifeBio intervention shows promise regarding improvement in the quality of care, which is crucial to differentiating organizations in a competitive market. LifeBio’s existing first-generation product is currently being implemented across multiple care settings: in-home care, assisted living facilities, specialized memory care units, and nursing homes.

It makes sense that simple ways of storytelling matters. It is just part of our being. But the good news is that numerous studies conducted by LifeBio and other researchers back up the idea that our own personal stories can help others and ourselves in the telling and sharing. Yes. Your story is my medicine and my story is yours.

Social Isolation is a Social Determinant of Health -- costing $6.7 billion annually

2019-05-06T13:59:00.001-04:00

Social Isolation is a Social Determinant of Health. "A lack of social contacts among older adults is associated with an estimated $6.7 billion in additional Medicare spending annually."

LifeBio can help.

https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/ppi/2017/10/medicare-spends-more-on-socially-isolated-older-adults.pdf

What is Reminiscence Therapy?

2019-05-03T15:31:00.000-04:00

LifeBio uses Reminiscence Therapy (or “RT”) to connect, engage, and enrich lives. Reminiscence Therapy is appropriate for people of all ages and levels of cognitive function, when tailored to their specific needs. Reminiscence Therapy is most commonly used with seniors and is “the discussion of past activities, events and experiences with another person or group of people, usually with the aid of tangible prompts such as photographs, household and other familiar items from the past, music and archive sound recordings”. [1] RT uses prompts to find common ground and make connections between individuals who may or may not have cognitive deficits.

Research shows Reminiscence Therapy to be effective in improving mood in older people without dementia. For people with dementia, improvement is statistically significant for cognition, mood, and general behavioral function. When caregivers participate in RT groups with their loved one, caregiver strain is greatly reduced. Staff knowledge of backgrounds grows, and there are no harmful effects.[2]

Reminiscence is about making connections and celebrating individuality. The process of sharing one’s personal history is invaluable to individuals, communities, and families. Working together on a life story draws families closer together, and the finished product becomes both an heirloom and a toolkit. Stories preserved from our own pasts tell us who we are and where we came from, and provide priceless cues to personhood. These clues may be the only way to truly connect and provide comfort in later life.

LifeBio makes the reminiscence process simple. We offer a variety of life story products, including the About Me Booklet, our exclusive LifeBio Snapshot, the LifeBio Story Guide, the Veteran’s Story Guide, Memory Journal, Story Cards, as well as our website, app, and full service book printing. Contact us at 1-937-303-4576 or info@lifebio.com to get started today!

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15846613

[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15846613

Amber Dennis is a staff writer and personal biographer for LifeBio, where she helps record personal histories. Before working for LifeBio, Amber worked for a number of years in customer service, and also worked in nursing homes and home care as an STNA. She holds a BA in History from Otterbein University.