What is Life Story Work in Health and Social Care?

Life story work is a person-centred approach used in health and social care. This method allows individuals to share and record their personal histories, memories, and experiences. Staff, family, and sometimes friends help create a record of someone’s life – often when that person is receiving care. Life story work values each individual’s identity, background, and unique circumstances. It gives people a sense of ownership over their narrative, encourages reflection, and supports emotional well-being.

Purposes of Life Story Work

Life story work has several practical uses across care settings such as care homes, hospitals, foster care, and dementia services. It helps staff support people more effectively by understanding who they are, rather than focusing only on their diagnoses or care needs. Key purposes include:

• Preserving a person’s memory and unique experiences.
• Improving relationships between carers and those they support.
• Supporting mental health by validating experiences and feelings.
• Helping individuals adjust to changes such as moving into care.
• Offering comfort, reassurance, and a sense of continuity in times of confusion or distress.

Who Uses Life Story Work?

Life story work can make a difference for people of all ages and backgrounds. Care teams, relatives, and sometimes volunteers are often involved. It is especially widely used for:

• People living with dementia or memory loss.
• Children and young people in foster care or adoption.
• Adults living with learning disabilities.
• Older people in residential or nursing homes.
• People receiving palliative or end-of-life care.

How Life Story Work is Carried Out

Creating a life story is flexible and depends on the person at the centre. Techniques vary according to needs, preferences, and available resources. Some common ways life story work is carried out include:

• One-to-one sessions with staff.
• Group storytelling workshops.
• Family involvement—interviews, photo gathering, memory sharing.

The process might include:

• Recording written accounts.
• Collecting photographs, letters, and keepsakes.
• Drawing or painting memories.
• Audio or video recordings.
• Building scrapbooks, memory boxes, or digital slideshows.

People are encouraged to share at their own pace. Staff approach life story work gently and respectfully, recognising that sharing personal experiences can feel emotional or even difficult.

What Goes into a Life Story?

Life stories can be as detailed or as simple as the person wants. Typical content includes:

• Early memories and childhood.
• Family history and relationships.
• School, work, and important life events.
• Hobbies, passions, and achievements.
• Cultural background and beliefs.
• Favourite holidays, music, food, and places.
• Challenges and ways they coped.
• Special objects and photographs.

Some life stories focus on a timeline, whereas others organise memories by theme. A life story could be a short booklet, a lengthy autobiography, or a simple folder—whatever feels right.

Benefits to Individuals

Life story work helps people feel valued and understood. It allows a person’s background and identity to be known, recognised, and respected.

Emotional and Social Benefits

• Boosts self-esteem and confidence.
• Supports emotional expression and helps process loss or trauma.
• Encourages reminiscence, which can be especially soothing for people with memory loss.
• Promotes social connection—sharing stories often sparks conversations and new friendships.

Practical and Clinical Benefits

• Gives staff important information about preferences, routines, and triggers.
• Reduces misunderstandings by explaining past behaviours or responses.
• Aids with personalising care planning, making support more relevant.
• Can help prevent distress caused by unfamiliar routines or environments.

Benefits for Care Staff

Life story work provides staff with insights into what matters most to each person, encouraging a more personal relationship.

• Supports empathy and understanding.
• Improves carer satisfaction and morale—staff can feel proud of supporting the individual, not just the condition.
• Helps staff find common ground, making everyday interactions more meaningful.
• Can offer guidance when the person’s communication becomes difficult.

Benefits for Families

Families often value the chance to share memories and highlight their loved one’s achievements, values, and quirks. It can:

• Create opportunities for positive interaction during visits.
• Help families communicate wishes, concerns, and comforting routines.
• Offer a record for future generations to cherish.

Supporting People with Dementia

Life story work is widely used in dementia care across the UK. Memory loss can make a person feel disconnected or frightened. Familiar stories and photographs give reassurance and help people stay grounded in their identity. Team members can use life story materials to:

• Start gentle conversations during personal care.
• Understand triggers for distress or agitation.
• Use specific memories to offer comfort and calm.

For instance, a favourite song might ease anxiety, or a photo album may prompt happy recollections.

Supporting Children and Young People

Life story work is valuable for children in care, adoption, or who have experienced trauma. Change, separation, and loss can disrupt a child’s sense of identity. Creating a life story book helps children:

• Piece together confusing events or moves.
• Understand their family history.
• Place difficult experiences in context and start to heal.
• Make sense of their feelings and express them safely.

Social workers, foster carers, and birth families often contribute to a child’s life story work, making sure the story remains honest and supportive.

Supporting People with Learning Disabilities

People with learning disabilities may struggle to express detail or chronology. Using pictures, talking mats, crafts, and music can help make life story work accessible. Care staff can gain new perspectives on communication, sensory needs, and routines that bring comfort.

Common Challenges

Life story work does not always happen smoothly. Challenges include:

• Respecting boundaries where memories are sensitive or distressing.
• Finding enough time in busy care environments.
• Ensuring materials are stored safely and privately.
• Balancing honesty with kindness—for example, when recalling difficult life events.
• Keeping stories up to date as circumstances change.

Staff need skill, patience, and compassion to guide life story work. Good practice includes ongoing training, supervision, and support.

Safeguarding, Privacy and Consent

Life stories are deeply personal. Staff must gain informed consent and check the person’s wishes at every stage.

• Always seek permission before recording or sharing stories.
• Store physical books, digital files, and objects securely.
• Follow relevant safeguarding and confidentiality policies.
• Respect topics the individual does not wish to share.

Family members and staff can be included, but the final say belongs to the individual receiving care. For people who may lack capacity to give consent, best interest decisions are made following the Mental Capacity Act.

Making Life Story Work Part of Daily Care

For life story work to have meaning, it should weave into day-to-day life. This means:

• Care plans include references to the person’s life story and preferences.
• Staff use life story prompts during mealtimes, activities, or personal care.
• Family and friends continue to contribute and update materials.
• New staff can familiarise themselves with the story to respect routines and preferences.

Examples of Life Story Work in Different Settings

In Care Homes

Staff help residents create memory books filled with photos and anecdotes. These are used to prompt conversations and give comfort during times of confusion.

In Hospital

Hospital staff use short summaries, “This Is Me” or “About Me” profiles, to provide personalised care for patients with communication needs.

In Foster Care

Children receive life story books that help them understand their family backgrounds and changes in their lives, which can support healing and confidence.

With Learning Disabilities

Teams might use accessible formats, such as symbol-supported communication, to co-create stories that celebrate each person’s strengths and preferences.

Training and Support for Staff

Good life story work depends on skills like active listening, empathy, and cultural sensitivity. Staff receive training on:

• Engaging carefully with difficult memories.
• Supporting people to decide what and how much to share.
• Responding to emotional reactions with reassurance.
• Using creative tools such as photos, timelines, and audio recordings.
• Confidential and respectful handling of personal history.

Team meetings and supervision provide space for reflection and support.

Digital Life Story Work

Digital tools are increasingly used in life story work. Benefits include:

• Multimedia options such as recorded voice, video, and music.
• Secure online memory books families can access together.
• Easy updates and sharing, with consent.

Staff take care to protect privacy and follow data protection rules.

Approaches and Tools

Different approaches suit different people. Common tools include:

• Memory boxes containing favourite items, toys, or holiday souvenirs.
• Life story books—printed or digital—structured with chapters or themes.
• Arts and crafts sessions to create collages or portraits.
• Audio recordings capturing stories and songs.
• Timelines marking out important dates and events.

The Emotional Side

Life story work values honesty and sensitivity. Not all memories are happy, and some people may choose to skip certain events. Staff offer support, listen without judgement, and move at the person’s pace.

Life stories can prompt tears as well as laughter. In both cases, feeling heard brings comfort and dignity.

Life Story Work Policy

Health and social care policies encourage person-centred care and dignity in services. Life story work supports these aims, helping people remain connected to their sense of self, routines, and values.

Final Thoughts

Life story work in health and social care recognises each individual’s unique experiences and identity. It helps build trust, promote well-being, and improve care quality. People are empowered to share, record, and celebrate their stories, supported by staff and loved ones. This approach is rooted in respect, compassionate communication, and the belief that every person’s story matters.