title: Life story resources in dementia care: a review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Life story work has a relatively long tradition in the caring sciences and is recognised as an important component of dementia care and practice. However, to date, there has not been a review of accessible life story resources. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following a systematic approach to identification and inclusion, 11 life story resources were reviewed to ascertain areas of commonality and divergence between the materials.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The authors were able to group the analysis under eight areas and at the end of this process, it was uncertain if life story work is a formal staff intervention or an informal activity that people with dementia and their families could engage in. Resources also varied in terms of whether the life story information was organised in a chronological way, or with topics of interest/discussion or with a combination of both. Life story evaluation and its impact on the life of the person with dementia is in need of development.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Across the resources the authors identified four reasons to do life story work which the authors have named as: emotional connections; interactional connections; building new connections and practical care connections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was limited guidance aimed at helping people with dementia to develop and compile their own life story.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This paper provides new insights into the usefulness, future directions and content of life story resources in dementia care. It will be of interest to those in health and social care as well as people living with dementia.
authors.affiliation: Dementia and Ageing Research Team, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kindell
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Burrow
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Communication Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: Ray
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: John David
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Keady
keywords: Biography; Dementia; Life story; Practice; Resources; Review