Creating a memory bank

Memories can be preserved in many ways. You can:

• Keep an electronic folder with photos of family members and pictures of mementos from the person's life
• Write down descriptions of important events in the person's life
• Create a scrapbook or box with photos, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards, greeting cards, sketches, poetry or musical verses
• Make a video or audio recording of personal stories
• Include favorite songs or TV shows

Consider making copies of anything precious for safekeeping.

When adding photos and documents to a memory box:

• Use a jar or special box. Label the jar or box and keep it in a place the person can easily access.
• Include older photos. What age is your loved one living in his or her mind? You'll want to include plenty of pictures from that time.
• Every picture tells a story. Write that story as a caption for each photo. Include the names of anyone in the picture and the date, if possible.

To get the person talking for a video or audio recording, you might start by reminiscing about his or her family history, traditions and celebrations. Childhood games, homes and pets are often good opening topics — especially as dementia progresses and recent events become hard to remember. You might also talk about favorite sports, books, music and hobbies, as well as cultural or historical events.

Depending on the status of the person's memory, you might also want to interview neighbors, friends and family members.