Preserving Identity and Emotional Well-being Through Legacy Projects in Dementia Care

Dementia can significantly affect an individual's memory, sense of self, and emotional well-being. As cognitive abilities decline, individuals may feel a loss of identity and connection to their past. However, creating a visible legacy—a tangible collection of memories, stories, and experiences—can have profound psychological benefits.

By documenting and sharing meaningful moments, individuals with dementia can maintain a sense of self and continuity, even as their memory fades.

The psychological benefits of creating a visible legacy are numerous, offering emotional comfort, empowerment, and a sense of purpose. Whether through written memoirs, photographs, audio recordings, or other forms of legacy projects, these tangible representations of a person’s life offer a powerful way to preserve their identity.

Furthermore, creating a visible legacy can benefit both the individual with dementia and their caregivers, helping them process complex emotions and providing a sense of closure and connection. Tools like Evaheld can help families securely store and share these legacies, ensuring that memories are preserved for future generations.

Why Visible Legacies Are Important in Dementia Care

According to Advance Care Planning Australia, visible legacies provide a sense of continuity and emotional stability for individuals with dementia:

• Reinforces identity: Creating a visible legacy helps individuals feel connected to their past, their family, and their unique story
• Provides emotional security: The act of documenting life experiences helps the person process emotions and maintain a sense of comfort
• Fosters family connection: Legacy projects facilitate intergenerational connections, ensuring that stories, traditions, and memories are passed down
• Enhances self-worth: Contributing to a meaningful legacy reinforces the individual’s sense of value, encouraging engagement and self-expression

Dementia Support Australia highlights that visible legacy projects can play a vital role in helping individuals maintain a positive self-image and emotional well-being, particularly during challenging moments of cognitive decline.

Key Psychological Benefits of Visible Legacies

Creating a visible legacy involves capturing and documenting the person’s life story, memories, and personal experiences.

These projects can have several psychological benefits:

• Boosts confidence: The act of contributing to a legacy project reinforces the individual’s role and self-worth, helping them feel valued
• Reduces anxiety and depression: Engaging in meaningful legacy work can provide a sense of purpose, reducing feelings of loneliness or hopelessness
• Improves emotional regulation: Reflecting on positive memories and life experiences can help the person better process emotions and manage stress
• Promotes reminiscence: Legacy work encourages reminiscence therapy, helping individuals recall important memories and maintain emotional balance
• Facilitates family bonding: Creating a shared legacy project can strengthen relationships, encouraging family members to actively participate in preserving memories

Family Legacy Series suggests that legacy creation not only benefits the individual with dementia but also provides significant emotional support to their caregivers, helping to reduce caregiver burnout by creating meaningful shared experiences.

Step-by-Step: Creating a Visible Legacy

1. Start with Personal Stories and Memories

Begin by documenting key memories, life events, and stories:

• Encourage the individual to reflect on significant moments from their life, such as childhood memories, career milestones, and family celebrations
• Ask open-ended questions to prompt discussion and storytelling (e.g. “What was your favourite family holiday?” or “Tell me about your childhood home”)
• Record these memories in written, audio, or video formats, depending on the person’s preferences

Evaheld makes it easy to store these memories digitally, allowing families to create a comprehensive digital legacy project that can be accessed and shared by future generations.

2. Create Photo Albums and Memory Books

Visual aids such as photo albums and memory books can be a powerful way to preserve memories:

• Collect and organise family photos, mementos, and other items that hold sentimental value
• Create a memory book with captions or stories alongside each photo to provide context and trigger memories
• Include personal notes, family anecdotes, or life lessons that can be passed down

Advance Care Planning Australia recommends using photo-based memory projects as part of a person-centred care plan, as they help preserve the individual’s identity and provide a source of comfort.

3. Record Audio or Video Messages

Recording the person’s voice and sharing their life story can be an emotionally fulfilling way to preserve their legacy:

• Record video messages where the person shares their thoughts, stories, and life experiences
• Create audio recordings that capture the individual’s voice, perhaps telling family anecdotes or sharing wisdom
• Use these recordings as part of a legacy project to engage future generations and maintain a connection to the person’s legacy

Nurse Info suggests incorporating audio or video recordings into dementia care plans to help enhance communication and provide lasting memories for both the individual and their loved ones.

4. Involve Family Members in the Legacy Process

Legacy projects can become a shared activity that strengthens family bonds and facilitates emotional connection:

• Involve family members in the process by sharing memories, photographs, and stories together
• Create a collaborative family tree or timeline to document significant events and milestones
• Encourage family members to contribute by adding their perspectives, memories, or thoughts to the legacy project

Online Will Blog encourages families to consider creating shared legacy projects, which can help maintain a sense of togetherness and ensure that the person with dementia feels involved in family life.

5. Store and Share the Legacy

Once the project is completed, ensure that it is stored securely and can be shared with future generations:

• Use Evaheld to store digital copies of the legacy project, ensuring they are accessible and shareable with family members
• Organise family events or gatherings to celebrate the completion of the legacy, allowing the individual to share their story with loved ones
• Keep the legacy project updated over time, adding new memories or experiences as the individual’s life progresses

Dementia Support Australia suggests using legacy projects as a tool for ongoing engagement, as they offer opportunities for continued reminiscence and emotional connection.

Supporting the Sandwich Generation

For adult children managing caregiving alongside other responsibilities:

• Evaheld offers a platform for collaborating on legacy projects, allowing family members to contribute remotely and share memories in a meaningful way
• Use digital tools to create a living, evolving legacy that can be accessed by multiple caregivers and family members
• Document life stories and memories to ensure that the legacy remains intact, even if the person with dementia is no longer able to actively participate

Family Legacy Series encourages families to incorporate legacy projects into advance care planning, ensuring that these important memories are preserved and passed down to future generations.

In Residential and Home Care Settings

Ensure carers:

• Are trained in legacy creation and understand the psychological benefits of documenting life stories and memories
• Offer guidance and support for creating visible legacies, including photo albums, storybooks, and audio or video recordings
• Create opportunities for family involvement in the legacy process, enhancing the emotional experience for both the individual with dementia and their loved ones

Dementia Support Australia provides training for carers on how to incorporate legacy work into dementia care plans, offering a holistic approach that focuses on emotional health and personal identity.

Final Thoughts

Creating a visible legacy provides an invaluable way for individuals with dementia to preserve their sense of self, maintain emotional well-being, and connect with future generations.

By documenting memories, personal stories, and life experiences, families and carers can offer both comfort and empowerment to individuals with dementia, strengthening their identity and sense of purpose.

With Evaheld, you can store, share, and update legacy projects, ensuring that meaningful memories are preserved and passed down for generations to come.