Facilitated Life Story Writing by Individuals with Dementia for Conversational Remembering Boxes: Follow-up Summer 2005 - Report Series # 10

摘要

The goal of this follow-up study, conducted in the summer of 2005, was to enhance the experience of personhood in individuals with dementia through computer-mediated life story writing, by addressing the key problem areas identified in the pilot study (Summer 2004). Four of the original eight male participants were paired with a student researcher over the course of 6 weeks. The interviews were taped and electronically recorded. The life stories were transcribed and presented to the participants to be added to the personal memory boxes that were sent home during the first study. Follow-up with caregivers at the 3-month mark indicated a good level of interest but reduced activity with respect to the memory boxes. Unlike the previous study, computer use had an effect, albeit a small one, on the topics of stories elicited from two participants.