Life Story What’s That? Who Cares? Life story is an account of the series and events that make up your life and define who you are Life story reinforces your uniqueness Documenting life story is helpful to ourselves and others: Recognize meaning in life Identify patterns in behavior Clarify the future

Your History Can Help You Life story promotes: Quality communication and relationships Quality of life Legacy building Mental healthiness Future planning and decision making An active brain

Activity 1: Shared Experiences

Shared Experiences… So What? What is the purpose of sharing and comparing your experiences with those around you? People have unique points of view and impressions of what happened in their lives.

Dottie

Life Story Promotes Communication Highlights individual life story and uniqueness Encourages connections and strengthens bonds Creates and maintains understanding and support

Ted

Life Story Promotes Quality of Life Explains behavior Increases knowledge and understanding Provides a dual sense of empowerment

Life Story Promotes Healthy Caregiving Relationships Caregiving is a two-way street A complete understanding of each: facilitates trust adds to a greater sense of support and well-being Use life story as a tool to provide quality care and to help inform health care and end-of-life decisions.

Life Story Promotes Legacy A legacy is something that is passed down from one period of time or generation to another The different types of legacy include: Material legacy: money, property, family heirlooms Legacy of values: personal, social and cultural values Biological legacy: passing on genes, health conditions, donating your body to science Life story is a part of your legacy

Life Story Promotes Legacy Material legacy: Life story can help give meaning to the “stuff” in your life. Legacy of Values: Life story is highlighting important thoughts and beliefs. Biological legacy: Life story contributes to genealogy and is linked to health history.

Health History and Legacy Health history is an account of personal and family medical information Health history influences include: Prevention Health maintenance Treatment choices Advanced directives End-of-life decisions

Life Story Promotes Mental Healthiness Mental health refers to overall psychological well- being This includes how we think, feel and act as we cope with life Mental health helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices Mental healthiness focuses on the presence of positive characteristics and a person’s ability to balance emotions Mentally healthy people will look at life’s good and bad times and use their focus, flexibility, and creativity to positively address life’s ups and downs. Mental health is important at every stage of life

Life Story Promotes Mental Healthiness Taking Time for Ourselves Reflection Attaching meaning to life story Being aware of our senses Strengthens our core and defines our identity Social Activity Interaction with team partner, family, friends Planning and future decision making Finances, retirement Advanced directives, end-of-Life decisions Bucket list

Life Story Promote Future Planning Establishing short, medium, and long-term goals is important Dreams and Aspirations: Helps us focus on making goals and dreams a reality Reminds us of what we have to look forward to Helps us see what we have accomplished Future Plans and Decision Making: Determine what is important (health, finances, long term care, end-of-life decisions, etc.) Put a plan in place before a crisis occurs

Life Story Promotes an Active Brain Social activity Relationship strengthening Social engagement Mental activity Legacy building Enhancing mental healthiness Physical activity Health history

Life Story: Getting Started Activity 3: Significant Life Experiences

What Does Life Story Do for You? Strengthens communication, relationships and quality of life Contributes to legacy Promotes mental healthiness Encourages planning and future decision making Supports an active brain

Memory Banking A 4-week long life story program designed to provide the knowledge and skills for collecting, documenting, and maintaining life stories and health histories. Memory Banking promotes: Quality communication and relationships Legacy building Mental healthiness Future planning and decision making An active brain

For more information, please contact: Amy Hosier Extension Specialist for Family Life (859) or Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. Copyright © 2012 for materials developed by University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension. This publication may be reproduced in portions or its entirety for educational or nonprofit purposes only. Permitted users shall give credit to the author(s) and include this copyright notice. Amy Hosier, Ph.D. Extension Specialist for Family Life August 2012