Summary: <a href="http://memory-well.com/index.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">MemoryWell</a> digital technology makes it easy for families to enhance their loved ones’ care from near and far by enabling them to upload favorite music, photos, videos, and readings to our mobile interface. They are trained, professional journalists who create portable memories for those who have trouble remembering. The life stories written about your loved one with Alzheimer’s and Dementia disease, helping caregivers understand and connect with them, and become keepsakes for families. Elders with Alzheimer’s and Dementia don't know who they are without the stories of there life they no longer remember. When you are in an assisted living or nursing home you can feel secluded. Your caregivers don't know of your life, so how can they help the situation. This is why MemoryWell came together with journalists as a solution. They can gather from friends and family all the stories, photos, memorabilia, music, videos and other stuff of your life. Then with technology create something of a life story to engage the caregivers with residents. This should enhance care and improve life for all. Because stories connect people and provide valuable information. These narratives of life can be used for activities that engage the caregivers and residents. Kind of like what I discuss by using technology to detour around the divide of you on one side and them the other. This is done by creating short portable stories or memories on a platform everyone from residents, friends, family and caregivers can benefit from. The co-founder Jay Newton-Small had to move his dad into a long-term Alzheimer’s care. None had ways to engage with his dad as he slipped away. It started as a questionnaire about his life. This was to small a sample for them to understand his life. With the ever-shrinking world of memories their had to be a solution. Technology could keep you connected with your loved ones. To better their care and to give you a menu of engagement tools when you visit. The web-based platform makes your loved one's stories and favorite digital photos, music, videos and readings easily available to you and to their caregivers no matter where you are. Caregivers who use the system get better understanding and make everyone happier. What they do: - Trained professional journalists create portable memories for those who have trouble remembering. - Life stories can become keepsakes for families. - Digital technology makes it easy for families to enhance their loved ones’ care from near and far. How it works: - Alzheimer’s homes hire them to preserve the life stories of residents by interviewing family and friends. - Written short narratives that caregivers use to personally engage with residents and better plan activities. - For extra, families can buy a longer version and/or a video version. - A mobile interface hosts all the multimedia and families can add to them for a subscription fee. Who they are: - Journalists weave cherished moments into a narrative tapestry. - They help reduce the isolation of long-term care. - Their storytelling and technology can build a community where none currently exists. My mom has Dementia and I see how she forgets things or her mind creates her own version of things. Like many with memory disease they forget or just create a new reality to replace what is lost. Sometimes just removing themselves from everyday life. I see her with good and bad days and I remember the short information the assisted living took from her and me. They have too many residents to know all that would help engage and enhance care. This would be and excellent program for every long-term care facility to use. Kind of like the SingFit program I had discussed in a previous podcast. Anything that can give the staff better tools is a plus. Otherwise it is kind of a unfamiliar place for residents to be.
