Patient voice: sharing stories digitally
Our Early Stage support group, in Dundee, have had their personal stories immortalised as part of the Patient Voice programme, thanks to Abertay University.
Group members were supported and encouraged to share their memories, record a voice-over and provide photographs to illustrate their own personal stories.
The project's videos will help teach student nurses at the university but the benefit of the project has been felt on both sides: group members were left with a feeling of achievement and a sense of purpose. The project also helped improvement participant's confidence, well being and speech.
The stories were launched at Abertay University during Dementia Awareness Week 2019 and have since become publicly available to view.
The launch allowed people with dementia, their families, along with health and social care professionals to come together and celebrate these powerful stories and discuss their feelings together. All participants were presented with a copy of their personal digital story.
Watch the digital stories
- Making the most of life - Trained as a solicitor, Aileen turns her memory to good use recalling family stories. Speculating as to whether stress and Alzheimer’s are linked, she nevertheless tries to make the most of life, like her mother and grandmother before her.
- The lad fae Norrie’s Pend - Alex's sense of humour shines through as Alex looks back at various incidents in his life, laughs at the tricks his memory plays now at the Bookies and the shops and looks forward to the future.
- It’s home - Bill’s love of sports (especially football), travel and keeping busy and happy memories of army service in Korea nevertheless lead him to conclude that home is the best place to be.
- Some things don’t change - Bubbly, attractive and vivacious, Etta has lived life to the full, driving interesting cars, running amusement arcades and travelling around the world. For as long as she can remember, she has always loved food, although these days it’s harder to remember what she likes.
- It’s the art - Gerry reflects on art, the links between art and humanity, and the meaning of art in his life, As he struggles to take in his diagnosis of dementia, Gerry appreciates the care and kindness at the centre, and being with others in the same boat – and knows that art and music will keep him connected to the world.
- It’s a different world - Once a popular and confident speaker, loss of the ability to speak easily has been one of the worst aspects of dementia for Rob. Now, laughing and smiling, he reflects that a world without a memory can still be a happy one.
- Still fit - Strong and healthy as a young man, Wallace has always loved sport and being outside. His loss of vision has meant that he has had to find other ways to exercise, but he still manages to keep fit – and positive.
- Caring - There was never much question about what Wendy would do for a career. From her earliest days, caring came naturally to her and she was determined to work to the highest standards, despite the parsimonious attitude of private care home managers. Nowadays, working in the voluntary sector, Wendy continues to care for people with dignity and respect, while feeling valued and respected herself.
The stories were collected as part of the Patient Voices program, which harnesses the power of patients’, carers and practitioners stories to inform health and social care practitioners and improve health education. There are now over 250 stories on their website.