How Life Story Work Helps People with Dementia in Leicester

You can help someone with dementia feel seen and heard again. Life story work gives them a way to show who they are, where they’ve been, and what matters most.

Why It Matters

Life story work uses photos, objects, and stories to evoke memories and identity. It helps carers understand the person better and offers the person a moment of clarity and pride

If someone with dementia steps back into their own history, they can find comfort in times they felt strong, smart, loved. These connections ease confusion and calm anxiety.

How You Can Do This at Home or in the Community

• Gather meaningful items: old photos, letters, medals, keepsakes.
• Sit with the person. Ask gentle questions like “Can you tell me when this was taken?” or “What does this remind you of?”
• Let them lead the pace. Follow their memory, not a strict plan.
• Use simple prompts: “Tell me more…” “What happened next?”
• Record stories in a notebook or digital file. You keep it safe. You both review it later when conversation stalls.

Local Support in Leicester and Leicestershire

Sapcote Memory Hub supports life story work in its community groups and CST (Cognitive Stimulation Therapy) sessions. Trained former nurses help guide interactive sessions that spark memory and shared conversation.

How This Makes a Real Difference

You’ll see changes that matter:

• A spark when they recall something from long ago
• A moment of recognition in their eyes
• A story you didn’t know, small or big, but deeply theirs
• Reduced agitation, less wandering, calmer moods

Give This a Try This Week

1. Choose one photo or object.
2. Sit with the person. Ask: “Do you remember this?”
3. Let the story come. Write down just a few lines.
4. Keep that memory safe. Revisit it later.

Want to Do More?

Drop in at Sapcote Memory Hub. You’ll find a group that welcomes memories, artwork, songs. You’ll learn new ways to journey back through stories.

Contact us for more information.