Dementia Life Story Book
Preserve their memories
before dementia takes them
A life story book for someone with dementia captures who they are — their memories, their voice, their personality — while they can still share it. A lasting record for the family, and a tool that helps carers provide more personalised, dignified support.
Free to start · No subscription · Printed book from £21.99
Why a life story book matters
More than a keepsake — a care tool
Life story work is well established in dementia care. Research shows that knowing a person's history, preferences, and memories helps carers provide more personalised, dignified support — and helps the person with dementia feel seen and valued, not defined by their diagnosis.
The Alzheimer's Society and NHS England both recognise life story work as a key component of person-centred dementia care. Care homes increasingly ask families for a life story document when a resident moves in — to help staff connect with the person behind the illness.
But beyond its use in care settings, a life story book is something the family will treasure forever. A record of who they were before the illness. Their voice, their humour, their memories — captured while they could still share them. Something a grandchild will read in thirty years and feel like they really knew their grandparent.
The earlier you start, the more complete the picture. But it's never too late — even at later stages, long-term memories and emotional memories often remain surprisingly vivid.
Two ways it helps
For care — and for the family
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For care settings
Share the life story book with their care team. Carers who know a resident's history — their work, their family, their preferences, the stories they love to tell — can provide more meaningful, person-centred care. It helps start conversations, reduce anxiety, maintain identity, and build trust between residents and staff. Many care homes actively request life story documents for new residents.
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For the family
A printed life story book becomes one of the most treasured possessions your family owns. A record of who they were before the illness. Their stories, their voice, their personality — kept forever in a beautiful book. With Tell Me Your Story, you can also include voice recordings — so family can scan a QR code and hear them speak, years from now, however the illness progresses.
When to start
The earlier the better — but it's never too late
Early stage
They can answer questions themselves, in their own words. This is the ideal time — their memories are largely intact and their voice comes through clearly. Voice recordings made at this stage are especially precious.
Mid stage
Family members can help fill in answers, drawing on shared memories. Long-term memories — childhood, early adulthood — often remain stronger than short-term at this stage. Use photos and sensory prompts to trigger stories.
Later or after
Family can create a tribute book using memories and stories they hold collectively — a way to honour someone whose story might otherwise go untold. Still deeply meaningful as a family keepsake.
Practical guidance
How to capture memories at each stage
People with dementia often retain long-term memories — particularly from childhood and early adulthood — far longer than short-term ones. This means life story conversations are often more possible than families expect, even at mid-stage dementia.
A few approaches that work well: use old photographs as conversation starters rather than asking direct questions. Ask about senses — what did your childhood home smell like? What did summers sound like? Sensory memory is often more resilient than narrative memory in dementia.
Keep sessions short — 15-20 minutes is often enough. Come back to it over multiple visits. Don't correct mistakes in their recollections — go with their version, which is often emotionally true even if factually imprecise.
If they become distressed, change the subject gently. Not all memories are good ones. Follow their lead and let them steer the conversation to what feels safe and comfortable.
Use old photos as conversation starters
Show them a photo from their past and ask who the people are, what was happening, what they remember about that day. Photos bypass the need for direct memory recall and often unlock vivid, emotional stories.
Ask about senses, not facts
What did their childhood home smell like? What did summers sound like? Sensory memory is often more resilient in dementia than factual or narrative memory. These questions reach parts of their experience that "what did you do as a child?" doesn't.
Keep sessions short
15-20 minutes is often enough. Fatigue and overstimulation can make things harder. Come back over multiple visits rather than trying to capture everything at once.
Don't correct their recollections
If they remember something differently from how it happened, go with their version. Emotional truth matters more than factual accuracy in a life story. Correcting them can cause distress and close the conversation down.
Let them repeat themselves
If they tell the same story multiple times, that's the story that matters most to them. Ask questions you've never asked before about it — who else was there, what happened before, how they felt. You'll find new layers every time.
Try music
Music from their past can unlock memories that nothing else can. Play songs from their teenage years and see what surfaces. Musical memory is often remarkably preserved even in later-stage dementia.
Care home use
How to involve the care home
If your loved one is in a care home or moving into one, sharing their life story book with the care team can make a significant difference to the quality of their care. Carers who know a resident's history — their job, their family, the music they loved, the places they lived — can connect with them as a whole person rather than just a patient.
Many care homes now actively request life story documentation as part of their admissions process. Tell Me Your Story makes it easy to share — you can share a private link so care staff can read the story online, or order a printed copy to keep at the home.
You might also consider asking care staff what information would be most useful to them. What they need for daily care — preferences, routines, comforts — is slightly different from what the family wants preserved as a keepsake. A good life story book serves both purposes.
What to include for care home staff
- ◦Their preferred name and any nicknames
- ◦Their occupation and working life
- ◦Family members' names and their relationships
- ◦Religious or spiritual beliefs and practices
- ◦Music they love — and music they dislike
- ◦Foods they enjoy and any they strongly dislike
- ◦Daily routines and preferences (morning person or evening person?)
- ◦Things that comfort them when they're anxious or distressed
- ◦Things that are likely to cause distress or upset
- ◦Stories they love to tell — so staff can ask and listen
- ◦What they were proud of in their life
- ◦What they want to be called and how they like to be addressed
What's included
Everything you need to capture their story
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100+ guided questions
Covering every chapter of life — from earliest memories to legacy. Questions that draw out the stories families never thought to ask, designed to work across different levels of ability.
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Voice recordings with QR codes
They can answer by speaking rather than typing. A QR code is printed in the book so family can hear their voice any time — even years later, however the illness progresses.
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Professionally printed book
A beautifully printed and bound book delivered to the door. Something physical to hold, share with carers, and pass down to the family.
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Share with carers
Share a private link so care home staff can read the life story online. Helps carers provide more personalised, person-centred support.
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Photos alongside answers
Add photos next to the answers they relate to — familiar faces and places that can also serve as memory prompts during care.
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No pressure, no deadline
Answer one question at a time, over as many sessions as needed. Everything saves automatically. Come back to it whenever they're having a good day.
"He told me about a motorbike he saved up for two years to buy. I never knew that about him."
— From a Tell Me Your Story keepsake
FAQ
Common questions
What is a dementia life story book?
A dementia life story book is a structured record of a person's life — their history, preferences, memories, and personality — created to help maintain their identity and dignity as dementia progresses. It's used both in care settings (to help carers provide person-centred support) and as a family keepsake.
Is life story work evidence-based in dementia care?
Yes. Life story work is recognised by the Alzheimer's Society, NHS England, and the Care Quality Commission as a valuable component of person-centred dementia care. Research shows it helps carers connect with the person behind the diagnosis and can reduce anxiety and improve wellbeing in care settings.
Can someone with dementia create a life story book?
Yes, often more than families expect. Long-term memories — childhood, early adulthood — often remain relatively intact even in mid-stage dementia. Sensory prompts and old photographs are particularly effective. For later stages, family members can contribute memories and stories they hold collectively.
When is the right time to create a dementia life story book?
As early as possible — ideally at or before diagnosis, when they can contribute in their own words. But it's never too late. At mid-stage, family can help fill in answers. At later stages, a tribute book created from family memories is still deeply meaningful.
How do I get someone with dementia to talk about their life?
Use old photographs rather than direct questions. Ask about senses — what their childhood home smelled like, what summers sounded like. Keep sessions short. Don't correct mistakes. Let them repeat stories — and ask new questions about the ones they keep returning to.
Can I share a life story book with a care home?
Yes, and care homes actively welcome this. Carers who know a resident's history — their work, their family, their preferences, the music they loved — can provide much more personalised and meaningful support. Tell Me Your Story lets you share a private link with care staff or order a printed copy for the home.
What if they can no longer answer questions themselves?
Family members can create the life story using their own memories — stories they've been told, experiences they shared, knowledge of the person's life and character. The result is still a deeply meaningful keepsake, even if it's assembled by family rather than the person themselves.
Their story deserves to be kept
Free to start, no commitment, no subscription. Begin capturing their life story today — in their own words, with their own voice, before it's too late.
Start a life story book free →Free to start · One-time payment · Printed book from £21.99