The House of Memories
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The House of Memories is a very good idea put into practice. It is changing the professional lives of health and social providers in the North West region and delivers a positive quality of life experience for people living with dementia.
Museums and memories
The House of Memories is about joining the dots that link us through our life experiences, our dreams and our shared histories. The programme demonstrates how a museum (or by association a library, arts centre, or theatre) can provide the health and social care sector with practical skills and knowledge to facilitate access to an untapped cultural resources; often within their locality.
The programme recognises that museums across the UK are expert at recording and caring for people’s memories - whether they are thousands of years old or within ‘living memory’. Great museums enable people to explore and connect their histories, to engage in relevant and meaningful cultural activity.
National Museums Liverpool's work with older people
At National Museums Liverpool, we recognise that to acknowledge and understand an individual’s personal history and memory is of great value and significance - especially for people living with dementia. Our experience of working with active and vulnerable older people is extensive.Through this, we have grown to understand how participation in our museum projects has a meaningful impact on people who are most vulnerable in our communities.
The House of Memories is centered on the fantastic objects, archives and stories at the Museum of Liverpool and is delivered in partnership with a training provider, AFTA Thought. The programme provides social care staff, in domicile and residential settings, with the skills and resources they need to inform their practice and support people living with dementia.
The training programme
The training programme is designed to be easy to use and informative, acknowledging the central role the carer can play. They can help unlock the memory that is waiting to be shared, and provide a stimulating and rewarding experience for the person living with dementia.
The programme provides participants (care workers, dementia champions, home care workers, agency support workers) with a variety of accessible practical experiences to:
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introduce basic knowledge about the various forms of dementia
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represent the challenge families face for people with early stage and progressive dementia
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introduce memory activity resources linked to the museum experience, which can also be used within care settings.
To extend the learning beyond the initial training experience, participants are also equipped with resources to take back into settings. These include:
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A Memory Box - facilitated museum outreach programme to settings
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A Suitcase of Memories – access to the museums object loan programme
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A Memory Toolkit - ‘how to guide’ for developing memory activity in settings.
If you are developing your own memory activities then you may be interested in the memorabilia packs which are available to purchase from the nostalgia page of our online shop| as well as the Museum of Liverpool gift shop. Six different themed memorabilia packs are available, including 1950s|, 1960s|, Women's War| and the Home Front|.
Find out more about House of Memories in this video:
North West Year of Dementia 2013
The North West are committed to providing the best possible services for people with dementia. Find out more on the don't forget dementia website|.
