3. Making a Digital Memory Book Using Audio and Video
What will we gain
A digital memory book may help a PwD reconnect with the people around them. It also has other positive effects on the caregiver, including:
- increased motivation to deliver care and interactively communicate
- improved mood, reduced burden, and behavior problems
- a better view of the value of life
- improved relationships among care staff and people with dementia
A digital memory book can help preserve the memories of a PwD and promote communication with loved ones even as the disease progresses.
ACTIVITY
Download the activity PDF:
Making a Digital Memory book using audio and video.pdf
Make a digital memory book that captures various aspects of the PwD.
What will we need?
How do you get started? You don’t need any fancy tools or equipment. You don’t even need to be particularly tech-savvy. All you need is some free time and memories you’d like to capture.
Step 1: Collect Your Memories
The first step is to start collecting your memories. These don’t have to be just photographs, though that’s usually the most common thing to include. Other ideas for things to gather are:
Step 2: Choose the Right Tool
There are a lot of free and paid resources for creating your digital memory book. Essentially any smartphone will be sufficient for you to complete your digital memory book.
Step 3: Choose the Right Photos
While it’s tempting to load up all your photos into your project, try to limit how many you choose. Remember, you’re telling a story. You’ll only want to include your best photos.
Step 4: Choose a Theme
When it’s time to make your book, try to choose a theme. This is a good way to keep to a single design throughout your photo book. While this might evolve over time, sticking to a single theme ties all your images and memories together. Here are some common theme ideas that might be a good fit: Wedding, Family vacation, Holiday/seasonal, Sports, Colors/patterns
Step 5: Include Text or Voice note
Just because you’re creating a photo memory book doesn’t mean you can’t include text or voice notes. This is a great way to help tell your story and secure your memory. While a picture is worth a thousand words, your text or voiceover helps bring everything together. It could spark a memory about something you forgot, and it helps fill in the blanks that photos can’t share.
Points for Reflection
More and more people are turning to technology to share their memories and what matters most to them. While social media is a great tool for expressing yourself, sometimes you need to create a memoir-type photo album to tell the full story.
While it’s hard to replace the feeling of a physical book, a digital memory album has undeniable perks. Not only will it last forever, but you can always update it through life’s many changes.
Resources
Memory book for people with dementia. How to make a memory book.
3 Ways to Make a Memory Book - wikiHow
Video: Digital Memory Book | Digital Project Life, memory keeper, scrapbook