An old class picture, the music that played during the wedding, a birth announcement card, or a video of someone’s summer holiday. These memories can be saved and viewed in the online life album. In the past year, Livio and the University of Twente put the album through extensive testing within Livio’s residential care location De Cromhoff in Enschede. And now the time has come to ‘hit the streets’.
“We know that stimulating people’s memories, by retrieving past memories for example, is an investment in personal health,” says Jojanneke Korte (photo, to the right), a psychologist at Livio. “The online life album is part of a scientific study we are designing and conducting in collaboration with our partners. Teuntje Elfrink, junior researcher at the University of Twente, is the coordinator responsible for training volunteers in supporting the users. Elfrink is researching the application of the album for the wellbeing of people with (mild) dementia.”
Gut feeling
Elfrink: “We are focusing on elderly people in Enschede who are showing possible signs of forgetfulness. Their family members, who have a gut feeling that something isn’t quite right, are often the first to pick up on those signs. We offer these people and their informal carers the opportunity to create an online life album. A computer-savvy volunteer can provide assistance if necessary. When it comes to the actual use of the album, we are providing a variety of example questions allowing people to reminisce about the past together.”
Identity
Korte: “The online life album preserves someone’s identity. This is extremely useful information, and an opportunity for healthcare professionals. It would be great if we could keep approaching those in need of care like people, instead of just patients with a file.”
Volunteers wanted
Are you internet savvy, good with tablets and/or smartphones, and does assisting elderly people with creating their online life album sound like your cup of tea? Contact Teuntje Elfrink on 053 489 3860 (Tue-Fri) or at t.r.elfrink@utwente.nl.
Participants from Enschede wanted
You can also contact Teuntje Elfrink (see above contact information) if you want to participate in the online life album as an informal carer with your partner or family member.
Partners
The Online Life Album is a collaboration by the University of Twente, Livio, Stichting Informele Zorg Twente and the University Medical Center Groningen, and is funded by ZonMw Memorabel, Alzheimer Nederland and PGGM.
