September is World Alzheimer’s Month, a time to raise awareness and support for those impacted by Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. For caregivers and families of those experiencing cognitive decline, tools that promote dignity, love, and presence are invaluable. Photo memory books can be one of those tools.
When thoughtfully created and intentionally designed, photo books can help spark memory recall, strengthen emotional bonds, and provide comfort for both patients and caregivers. Visual storytelling can aid memory stimulation and offer a way for families to stay connected through familiar faces, places, and rituals.
Mixbook is here to help you create photo books that celebrate a loved one’s life, serve as memory prompts, and act as a calming daily companion. Here’s our guide to doing so with a mindful approach customized to the unique needs of your loved one.
The science of visual memory
Photos and other visual imagery can trigger memories, emotional recognition, and a sense of identity in a way that spoken words alone cannot. A photo book created around carefully curated personal memories can therefore be a powerful tool to help someone with dementia. Looking through the book and having conversations about the photos can help with recalling names, events, and positive emotions from the recent and distant past.
According to Medical News Today, a photo memory book “can help people with dementia relive and recall memories. It can facilitate connection with loved ones and allow them to make sense of daily life.”
Further, a paper published in the journal Neuroethics reports that “researchers found that life story books consistently created a significant improvement in autobiographical memory, mood, depression, and sense of well-being.”
Not only are photo memory books backed up by science as useful tools for helping loved ones with dementia, they’re straightforward to create and fully customizable to meet individual needs.
Creating a memory-supportive photo book
Making a custom photo book in Mixbook Studio™ is easy to do, but this particular project requires a thoughtful approach. If possible, involve the person with dementia in the project as well as their closest family members and friends. Ask about their favorite things and any stand-out memories of events, milestones, or important people. Their level of involvement will depend on their cognitive abilities, but at a minimum you could use their preferred colors in the book design, or decorate the cover with a favorite flower or other meaningful motif.
Planning the photo book contents
A typical memory book will feature photos and brief captions that cover the person with dementia’s life story along with all the important people in their life. Experts suggest arranging photos in chronological order because a coherent flow of events is easier to process. Also try to keep the life story largely positive so that it can evoke pleasant emotions, rather than risk triggering negative ones.
You might start with the person’s date and place of birth, and their parents’ and siblings’ names. Progress through the key moments of childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, middle age, and later years. Include milestones like graduations, weddings, careers, military service, and the births of children and grandchildren. Other close relatives, friends, and pets can be included as well. The book could also feature photos representing special vacations, hobbies, homes, or volunteer activities.
Memory book design tips
Every design choice for a photo memory book should make it easier for individuals with dementia to comprehend. Consider the following design tips:
- Choose large, clear images with good contrast
- Keep photo layouts very simple, with just one extra-large picture per page
- Include brief captions or short sentences that are easy to understand and convey basic information. Write in the first person e.g. “My granddaughter Laura graduating from college.”
- Use a large text size and easy-to-read font for all text
- Optionally include a table of contents to show the structure of the book
- Consider featuring memorabilia such as scanned postcards or hand-written notes, which can also trigger memories
Creating any photo book is quicker and easier when you start with a professionally designed theme. For this type of project, we recommend a simple, unfussy theme such as these:
Remember, everything in a photo book is customizable. You can edit the layouts, backgrounds, text, and everything else in Mixbook Studio™.
Ideas for family storytelling projects
A full chronology of a loved one’s life isn’t the only approach to making a photo memory book. You might instead split different types of memories or life experiences into different volumes. An individual with dementia might find great comfort in photos from their childhood but not their later years, or vice-versa. Perhaps photos reflecting hobbies like gardening, painting, or quilting cheer them more than photos of people do.
Here are some other ideas for storytelling through photo books:
- “The Life of Grandma”: For a loving grandmother, dedicate a photo memory book to the times she has shared with her beloved grandchildren. Feature baby photos with names, birthdates, birthplaces, and parents, and continue with photos at different ages. Photos of the grandkids with Grandma are especially important for helping her recall memories and relationships.
- “Places We’ve Loved”: If your loved one has lived in many different homes, regions, or even countries, capture those key places in a memory photo book. A well-traveled person might also enjoy looking at photos of favorite vacation destinations.
- “The Dogs We’ve Known”: Dearly departed pets have a special place in our hearts. A loved one who cared for various dogs (or other pets) throughout their lifetime might find great comfort in looking through their photos. Add captions with the dogs’ names, and optionally the years and places they lived.
- “Then & Now” pairings: Pairing older and more recent photos of the same subject can help someone with dementia better perceive the passage of time. Examples include toddler and adult pics of family members, historic and current photos of their hometown, and photos showing vintage home settings versus modern ones.
Photo books as daily connection tools
Making a photo memory book is an important project. Next up is using the book as a connection tool, which could be a daily activity or otherwise included in a regular routine. Caregivers, family, and friends can look through the photo book alongside the person with dementia, and use the photos as conversation starters.
Ask open-ended questions (but avoid directly asking “do you remember this?”) and share your own memories. For example, an old photo of your loved one’s mother in the kitchen might inspire you to ask if she was a good cook, or what kinds of meals they ate back then. You might comment “he looks really mischievous” on an old dog photo, and see if it sparks any memories. Some photos could promote self-esteem or a sense of identity, such as “You must have been a really good nurse to win that award.”
Supporting caregivers emotionally
In a best-case scenario, looking through a photo memory book can become a calming ritual to turn to during difficult moments. This makes a book a remarkably helpful tool for a caregiver. The book could be used to brighten the mood of a person with dementia, or help them to refocus and relax when they’re agitated. A photo book can also provide answers to repeated questions and help with confusion.
Let Mixbook help you make a memory book
We know that a photo memory book for a loved one with dementia is a profound and meaningful project. If you need help with design, shipping, orders, book types, or anything else, Mixbook’s experts are available 24/7 through the Mixbook Help Center.
