Why Life Story Books Should Be Part of Every Nursing Home Admission
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69802/f366dw94Keywords:
life story books, reminiscence, nursing homes, dementia, person-centered careAbstract
Moving into a nursing home is a major life transition that often leads to increased emotional stress, loss of identity, and increased mortality risk. Life Story Books (LSBs) provide a person-centered approach that help residents maintain identity, foster social connections, and support emotional and cognitive well-being. This paper reviews the process of creating LSBs and highlights their multiple benefits. LSBs enhance resident well-being by promoting reminiscence, increasing self-esteem, and reducing depressive symptoms. They provide cognitive stimulation and emotional engagement, help preserve memory function, and strengthen communication between residents, staff, and families. LSBs also improve continuity of care by offering staff deeper insights into each resident’s history and preferences, enabling more personalized and compassionate caregiving. Furthermore, they encourage family involvement and align with therapeutic practices such as reminiscence and life review, which have been shown to improve mood and quality of life in older adults. Incorporating LSBs into the nursing home admission process offers a simple yet powerful way to promote dignity, connection, and meaningful engagement, ultimately enhancing quality of care and quality of life for residents with and without dementia.
References
Callahan, C. A. (2012). Transitions in care for older adults with and without dementia. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 60(5), 813-820. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2012.03905.x
Cereda, E. P. (2013). Alzheimer's disease and mortality in traditional long-term care facilities. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 56(3). doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2012.12.001
Chrisman, T. (2019). Effectiveness of life story book on depression and meaning in life for mentally alert residents of nursing homes (Doctoral Dissertation, University of Houston). Houston, Texas, USA: ETD Collection. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10657/5560
Elfrink, T., Zuidema, S., Kunz, M., & Westerhof, G. (2018). Life story books for people with dementia: A systematic review. International Psychogeriatrics, 30(12), 1797-1811. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610218000376
Flacker, J., & Kiely, D. (2003). Mortality-related factors and 1-year survival in nursing home residents. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 51(2), 213-221. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1532-5415.2003.51060.x
doi:https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1532-5415.2003.51060.x
Gibson, F. (2011). Reminiscence and life story work: A practice guide. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Gridley, K., Birks, Y., & Parker, G. (2018). Exploring good practice in life story work with people with dementia: The findings of a qualitative study looking at the multiple views of stakeholders. Dementia, 19(2), 182-194. https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301218768921
Gridley, K., Brooks, J., Birks, Y., Baxter, K., & Parker, G. (2016). Improving care for people with dementia: Development and initial feasibility study for evaluation of life story work in dementia care. Health Services and Delivery Research, i-300. https://doi.org/10.3310/hsdr04230
Grøndahl, V. A., Persenius, M., Ba˚ath, C., & Helgesen, A. K. (2017). The use of life stories and its influence on persons with dementia, their relatives and staff- A systematic mixed studies review. BMC Nursing, 16(1), 28. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-017-0223-5
Haight, B. K., & Haight, B. S. (2007). The handbook of structured life review. Health Professions Press, Inc.
Hicks, K. L., RAbins, P. V., & Black, B. S. (2010). Predictors of mortality in nursing home residents with advanced dementia. American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease & Other Dementias, 25(5), 439-445. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20601644/
Huang, H. C., Chen, Y. T., Chen, P. Y., Hu, S. H., Liu, F., & Kuo, Y. L. (2015). Reminiscence therapy improves cognitive functions and reduces depressive symptoms in elderly people with dementia: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 16(12), 1087-1094. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2015.07.010
McKeown, J., Clarke, A., Ingleton, C., Ryan, T., & Repper, J. (2010). The use of life story work with people with dementia to enhance person-centred care. International Journal of Older People Nursing, 5(2), 148-158. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-3743.2010.00219.x
McKeown, J., Ryan, T., Ingleton, C., & Clarke, A. (2013). ‘You have to be mindful of whose story it is’: The challenges of undertaking life story work with people with dementia and their family carers. Dementia, 14(2), 238–256. https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301213495864
Morgan, S., & Woods, R. T. (2010). Life review with people with dementia in care homes: A preliminary randomized controlled trial. Non-pharmacological Therapies in Dementia, 1(1), 43-60.
Parker, G., Gridley, K., J., B., & Glanville, J. (2020). Using a systematic review to uncover theory and outcomes for a complex intervention in health and social care: A worked example using life story work for people with dementia. Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, 25(4), 265-277. https://doi.org/10.1177/1355819619897091
Pinquart, M., & Forstmeier, S. (2012). Effects of reminiscence interventions on psychosocial outcomes: A meta-analysis. Aging & mental health,, 16(5), 541-558. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2011.651434
Polacsek, M., & Woolford, M. (2022). Strategies to support older adults’ mental health during the transition into residential aged care: A qualitative study of multiple stakeholder perspectives. BMC Geriatrics, 22, 151. doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-02859-1
Roberts, A. W. (2018). The population 65 years and older in the United States: 2016. American Community Survey Reports, ACS-38. Washington D.C.: U.S. Census Bureau.
Subramaniam, P., Woods, B., & Whitaker, C. (2014). Life review and life story books for people with mild to moderate dementia: A randomised controlled trial. Aging & Mental Health, 18(3), 363-375. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2013.837144
Thach, N. T., & Wiener, J. M. (2018, 08 07). An overview of long-term services and supports and Medicaid: Final report. Retrieved from Final Report to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation: https://aspe.hhs.gov/reports/overview-long-term-services-supports-medicaid-final-report-0
Wills, T., & Day, M. R. (2008). Valuing the person’s story: Use of life story books in a continuing care setting. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 3(3), 547. https://doi.org/10.2147/cia.s1620
Wren, R. (2016). Effect of life review on quality of life for older adults living in nursing homes. Physical & Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics, 34(4), 186-204. https://doi.org/10.1080/02703181.2016.1268236
