Dementia support

A memory box

A memory box is a collection of images, and objects which represent a person’s interests and history. These could be items from key moments in their life, such as a medal or a baby’s wristband or items to represent their home or work life for example a photograph of their street or a work tool.

Benefits of creating a memory box

Creating a memory box for someone diagnosed with dementia can have a range of benefits for both the person with dementia and their relatives. These include:

• feeling a sense of inclusion
• stimulating conversation between someone diagnosed with dementia and their relatives
• creating new memories of your loved ones
• providing relatives with a greater understanding of their family’s past
• creating a calming effect on someone diagnosed with dementia
• using a variety of senses such as touch, which the person diagnosed with dementia will begin to rely on
• reflecting on fond memories which will give those involved a greater sense of wellbeing
• increasing creativity which may lead to new or re-discovered hobbies for the person diagnosed with dementia
• stimulating the part of the brain that stores feelings and memories which helps someone diagnosed with dementia make sense of the world around them

Creating a memory box

You can create a memory box on behalf of someone or you could make it together.

1. Choose a container for the items

This could be a box or a bag. It can be as fancy or as plain as you want. You might choose an ornate wooden box or a battered suitcase or shoebox.

Top tips:

• choose something easy to lift
• pick a container which will fit on someone’s lap or a small table
• ensure it will securely hold the items without them spilling out
• make sure the container will wear well
• check that it can be opened easily and any compartments suit the dexterity of the user

2. Select the items

When choosing items to go in the memory box think about what is important to the person you’re making it for.

It could be key moments in their life, what did they enjoy, or their happiest memories.

Top tips:

• try to select items which stimulate different senses e.g. touch, smell, sight, sound and taste
• avoid items which smell of food which aren’t edible, as someone diagnosed with dementia may try to eat this e.g. soap
• touch is a powerful sense so consider the textures of objects - Avoid items which are hard to grip
• consider how safe an item is - Try to avoid sharp or heavy objects
• focus on items which are linked to positive memories
• consider the uniqueness of an item - If it is irreplaceable, leave it out
• images can become worn with use - Consider photocopying and laminating them to protect them
• labelling items will help the person diagnosed with dementia to recognise the item and its significance - An alternative to labelling would be creating a contents list for the memory box with a description next to each item
• if you have a lot of items don’t try to fit them into one box, instead, you could produce memory boxes on different themes - For example, you could create a box about the person’s hobbies and another one about their children

Using a memory box

Look through the memory box with your relative and discuss the different items.

Top tips:

• encourage your relative to hold each item
• ask the person diagnosed with dementia to share what the object makes them think of
• discuss how it feels e.g. bumpy, rough, smooth, or soft
• talk about what memories your relative associates with it

Northamptonshire Libraries can help you create a memory box

There are several ways that we can help you to create a thought-provoking memory box for your relative, including:

• provide you with access to historic images, maps and press cuttings relating to Northamptonshire at the Discover area at Northamptonshire Central Library
• photocopy photographs at any of our 36 libraries - Charges apply
• some libraries have laminators which you can use to protect your photographs - Charges apply