Our parents, grandparents, and older family members have experienced a lot in their lifetimes. From historical events to cultural changes, they have watched the world be shaped into what we know and live in today.

These experiences are a part of your parent’s or loved one’s life story, and sharing this story can benefit present and future generations. Life stories can provide fascinating insight into family history and can help bridge a generational gap.

Woodland Ridge, a senior care community in Smyrna, Georgia, knows how valuable and unique a life story can be. That is why we are sharing tips for helping a parent or loved one share their life story for years to come.

Use Photos & Items to Create a Scrapbook

Pictures not only showcase a person’s life story but can also help him or her to revisit a memory to provide a more detailed account around the day and time the photo was taken. 

Viewing or creating a family photo album can show younger generations your loved one’s life story and help to create a stronger connection between the generations.

A scrapbook can be similar to a photo album but allows you to add another layer of storytelling, such as valued memorabilia, like notes or letters, ticket stubs, or other items. Scrapbooking can be a fun and unique way of showcasing your parent or loved one’s life story!

Sharing a Life Story Can Benefit a Person’s Health

Discussing and writing down a life story is another way of capturing it. Discussing a person’s life story can help give a more detailed recounting while creating a lasting bond between you and your loved one. 

Not only can this method help strengthen your relationship, but journaling comes with several health benefits, including reducing cognitive decline and reducing feelings of stress.

To begin the process of documenting a loved one’s life story, we recommend creating an outline of notable events from their lifetime. This could include any significant event from their life – from historical events to personal events like graduations, weddings, or births. Here are a few questions you can ask to start the conversation:

1. Where did you grow up? 
2. Who was the most influential person in your childhood?
3. Who was your first crush?
4. What was your first pet’s name?
   1. What are some of your fondest memories of you and your first pet?
5. What significant world events do you remember as they happened/unfolded?

Once the conversation starts, questions and curiosity will form naturally so that you can gain a better understanding of the different chapters in their life. 

Get the Family Together

There’s no better way to share a person’s life story than in person with family and friends. A family reunion or celebration can be the perfect place to discuss a loved one’s life story as it can have multiple generations present at once.

These types of events can put the senior in your life around family members they may not frequently see, as well as other older family members who can elaborate or share a different perspective on the same event, i.e. siblings talking about their parents or cousins reminiscing about past holidays. A milestone birthday for a parent or grandparent can be a great reason to get the family together and highlight a life story through photos, displays, and music.  

There are a variety of ways to capture and share a life story. How you go about it is entirely up to you and your loved one. How you do it is not as important as the reason behind this action. Capturing your loved one’s life story will allow you to preserve their legacy and tell their story for years to come.

Woodland Ridge in Smyrna, Georgia, understands the value of storytelling and documenting a loved one’s life story. Our community allows our residents to connect and share their stories with other individuals who have similar experiences. 

To learn more about Woodland Ridge, we encourage you to contact us today!