Getting to Know the Life Stories of Older Adults Activities for Building Relationships By Kathy Laurenhue, M.A.

"An invaluable and excellent resource … the author has thoroughly prepared the readers to understand and conduct group and individual sessions that are meant to be fun, interesting, and energizing."
-Creative Forecasting

"This delightful book will be an invaluable resource for elder care and Alzheimer's programs. Beautifully written by one of the most respected authorities on activity programming, the book gives family and professional caregivers a wealth of tools and exercises to build a caring relationship and to reminisce about good times. The book will bring smiles to any reader and help employees in residential, day or in home settings experience more success in their daily interactions with residents. Highly recommended."
-David Troxel, M.P.H., co-author, The Best Friends Approach to Alzheimer's Care

"A rich resource with uncommon versatility. The author's theme throughout this book is the central role of relationships and human interactions as the foundation of care. Laurenhue offers many ways to begin communication that invites us to share life stories, and the many practical real-world examples serve as a blueprint for how to engage others in the process of sharing meaningful life experiences."
-Dorothy Seman, R.N., M.S., Clinical Coordinator, Home and Community Based Care Programs, Jesse Brown VA, Chicago, IL

"This book is a wonderful resource for anyone who cares for older adults--home health aides, activity professionals, volunteers, residential care staff, and family members. But it has broader uses, as many of these topics can be used across generations … I can also see using some of these sessions at family gatherings as way to get the different generations in my family to talk to one another around a central topic."
-Melanie Chavin, M.S., author of The Lost Chord: Reaching the Person with Dementia Through the Power of Music

"The detail in this book will serve activity therapists and all those who work with older people very well. It is a font of information and the exercises all look like fun. This book is a valuable asset, stuffed with facts, for those wanting to practice reminiscence with people of any age."
- Barbara K. Haight, R.N.C,, DrPH,, FAAN, Professor Emeritus, College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina