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

Book Contents

Introduction
How to Use This Book
Why I emphasize the positive
How this book is organized
Using this book effectively
Props and materials    
Avoid favorites   

I: Who I am and Where I Lived

• Exercise 1: Name Stories     
• Mini-Exercise A: Read a Little More      
• Exercise 2: A Special Home 
• Mini-Exercise B:  Photographs and Field Trips          

II: Habits, Routines, Customs and Celebrations

• Exercise 3: Make a Choice   
• Mini-Exercise C: Play a Game       
• Exercise 4: Holiday Traditions    
• Mini-Exercise D: Adding art  

III: The Historical Perspective 

• Exercise 5: Family Leisure Time and the 50s   
• Mini-Exercise E: Adding Music to the Mix         
• Exercise 6: How Things Have Changed  
• Mini-Exercise F:  Time Lines        
• Exercise 7: Things that Changed You      
• Mini-Exercise G: Movies and Literature  

IV: Life from my Perspective

• Exercise 8: Turning Points    
• Mini-Exercise H: Telegrams and Letting go    
• Exercise 9: Best Qualities               
• Mini-Exercise I:  Heroes and Role Models      

Appendix A: Sharing Life Stories When Participants Have Dementia                 
Appendix B: Resources and vendors    
Bibliography

CD-ROM Contents


Exercise 1: Name Stories

• Exercise 1 Handout

Mini-Exercise A: Read a Little More for Fun

• Top Baby Names by Decade
• 100 Most Common Surnames in America

Exercise 2: A Special Home

• Exercise 2 Handout
• Floor Plan Grid

Exercise 3: Make a Choice

• Exercise 3 Handout

Exercise 4: Holiday Traditions

• Exercise 4 Handout
• Blank Mind Map: Fill in the Bubbles

Mini-Exercise D: Adding Art

• Draw a Cake Template
• Wrap a Package Template
• Draw a Path Illustration

Exercise 5: Family Leisure Time and the 1950s

• Exercise 5 Handout

Mini-Exercise E: Adding Music to the Mix

• Popular Broadway Musicals from the 1950s
• Popular Hollywood Musicals from the 1950s

Exercise 6: How Things Have Changed

• Exercise 6 Handout
• What Life Was Like in 1900

Mini-Exercise F: Time Lines

• Time Line Event Chart
• Sample Stock Market Time Line
• Sample Pie Chart Time Line
• Blank Pie Chart Time Line
• Brief Historical Time Line

Exercise 7: Life as Social History

• Exercise 7 Handout
• Advertisement for Listerine Mouthwash
• Roadside Advertisements for Burma-Shave
• How to Be a Good Wife

Mini-Exercise G: Movies and Literature

• Popular Children’s Literature of the 1950s
• Popular Adult Literature of the 1950s
• A Selection of 1950s Movies and Their Stars

Exercise 8: Turning Points

• Exercise 8 Handout
• Sample Mind Map: Lost Job
• Sample Mind Map: One Thought Leads to Another
• Blank Mind Map: Turning Points
• Stories about Missed Opportunities

Exercise 9: Best Qualities

• Exercise 9 Handout

Mini-Exercise I: Heroes and Role Models

• Famous Dinner Guests

Graphics for Signs