Bethanie’s Unique ‘Memory Box’ Concept for Dementia Residents

Bethanie, one of Western Australia’s most well-known not-for-profit aged care and retirement living providers has introduced a unique concept for dementia residents in its new Bethanie Gwelup Aged Care Home. Outside every room residents have a personalised ‘memory box’, containing contents from their past.

These memory boxes serve a number of uplifting purposes. Not only can it assist residents to identify which room is their own, it provides a gateway of communication amongst both staff and fellow residents, in speaking to the clients about what the possessions represent.

Bethanie Dementia Consultant Michelle Harris comments, “Meaningful engagement in communication must go beyond everyday activities such as showering and eating. It’s about psychosocial and spiritual connection, it’s about being human. The memory box allows us to connect in a meaningful way to each person as an individual.”

Michelle adds, “Memory boxes can link loved ones to their past life story maximizing their identity, with keepsakes for example emphasizing a special holiday, a person or theme that lifts the person’s spirit when they are living with a diagnosis of dementia.

“It is important for us to take the time to find which keepsakes to store in the memory box, and that time is worth the effort to help us provide person-centered care.”

Bethanie clients Bill and Gwen Moore currently reside at Bethanie Gwelup – Bill lives in an independent apartment, and Gwen, who has dementia, lives just an adjoining corridor away in the Bethanie Gwelup Aged Care Home.

Bill comments, “When I first saw the plans for Bethanie Gwelup I knew I had to secure an apartment. A big factor for me was realizing it was time to downsize, I loved living where I did but my garden was massive and moving had the double effect of me being right next to Gwen in the Aged Care Home.”

Gwen’s memory box has four special items inside. One is a plate featuring Clydesdale horses. Bill recalls, “Gwen has always loved these horses, when we visited South Australia once we were just outside of Adelaide and there on the side of the road was a statue of a beautiful draught horse pulling something with a farmer on it. I’m sure that’s where we got the plate from.”

There are also two small statues of sheep in her memory box, both of which were always on the mantelpiece at home and serve as a reminder of Gwen having grown up on a farm.

Lastly there is a maroon vase, which is quite prominent in the box. Bill says, “We always had that vase, I’m quite sure it was a wedding present and it always had pride of place in our home. It sits on a lovely crochet mat that Gwen made.

“Gwen knows it is all in there and that they are all her possessions. I really believe it helps to trigger her memory. It certainly helps me to find Gwen’s room!”

Gwen moved into the new Bethanie Gwelup Aged Care Home in April 2017, having previously resided at Bethanie Warwick. Bill says, “Gwen lived for a long while at home with dementia but it just got too hard. There was a lot of guilt. Guilt from me for not feeling like I could look after her, and guilt from Gwen too because she didn’t feel like she was looking after me anymore – which she had spent her life doing.

“I am pleased to say Bethanie Gwelup has been wonderful for Gwen. The building is very modern and doesn’t have a clinical feel. She has her own room, with her memory box outside, and she joins in on lots of activities. It’s a joyful place here; big and bright.”

In discussing where the concept of memory boxes and other dementia strategies derive from, Michelle comments, “Research in the UK and USA tells us that as dementia progresses people will obtain much greater comfort from wearing clothes that look familiar to them or look at familiar objects that are well known to them, rather than struggling to adjust to new possessions.

“Familiar items are a touchstone in a world that feels increasingly alien to a person living with dementia. They link the present with the past and it provides a sense of wellbeing by providing a person with connectedness to who they are and what they know.”

The memory boxes not only help clients and family members to familiarize themselves with their room, they also serve a purpose of understanding that they are still in a familiar environment. In addition most clients’ walls and shelves are decorated with paintings, photos or art and craft works that help to make them feel connected to their family.

Bethanie CEO Chris How concludes, “Bethanie believes that regardless of how and where care and support are provided, the personal possessions for every person need to be considered in how support is set up in residential care.”

Find out more about Bethanie.