Heritage and the Importance of Life Stories
Interactive interventions like the African & African Caribbean Dementia Toolkit can make a real difference in the lives of African and African Caribbean Elders.
These ‘Reminiscence Therapy’ tools, help them reminisce and develop new creative interests while fostering discussions about their cultural past. A multi-sensory approach which stimulates mental activity, evokes memories, and improves overall well-being.
It was a pleasure presenting on the BMedSci Health and Human Sciences Degree The University of Sheffield and many thanks to Michelle Winslow.
My presentation covered life-story work in dementia care, which involves recording aspects of an individual’s past and present.
This creative approach enables people living with dementia to return to the story-teller pedestal, feel more confident in their abilities, and slow down the decline of cognitive abilities.
Life-story work also creates and preserves family life stories, promotes inter-generational interaction with grand and great-grandchildren, and helps to develop more meaningful relationships with professional care partners.
Research and personal experience show that a cultural social distance exists between many healthcare professionals and their African & African Caribbean service users.
With access to interactive resources like the African & African Caribbean Dementia Toolkit, person-centred, culturally responsive interventions can bridge this gap.
