A Trip Down Memory Lane: How a Keepsake Box Can Help Those with Dementia

For those living with dementia, it can become increasingly challenging to recall cherished memories over time. To help in periods of uncertainty, it’s ever-more important to find ways to stimulate the memory in a positive way. To help this along, certain methods can be used to preserve precious experiences and anecdotes. One such method is a keepsake box.

What are Keepsake Boxes?

A particularly useful form of reminiscence therapy, a keepsake box, or memory box as it’s sometimes called, encompasses a personalised collection of meaningful items. Carefully selected, each item is chosen to help protect memories, emotions, and connections to the past. For those living with dementia, a keepsake box can be really powerful, helping to stimulate the memory, provide comfort, and maintain a sense of identity.

Connected to individual life stories and experiences, keepsake boxes can be filled with items that hold both deep and light-hearted connections to the past. Bringing joy and soothing reassurance, they can offer real comfort in a world that may otherwise feel quite confusing or unfamiliar. If you would like to create one for yourself or a loved one, here are just some of the things to think about when creating a keepsake box.

What Can You Put the box?

What you place in a keepsake box varies based on personal histories, interests and experiences. That said, there are some great objects and possessions that make for a wonderful start.

Photographs

Photographs are certainly powerful memory triggers. Freezing cherished moments in time, they offer much-loved windows into people, places and time. To provide useful visual aids and thoughtful reminders, add pictures of family, friends and pets to keepsake boxes, as well as photos of life events, favourite holidays and so on. Sparking memories and encouraging conversations, these photos can speak a thousand words and help to recall happy times and important relationships.

Letters and Cards

Letters and cards are often penned with love and as such are a great way to share sentiments and preserve memories. If you are looking for ideas, place letters and notes from family members and friends, birthday cards, and personal memos into keepsake boxes to help recall good times, significant occasions and special friendships. If it helps, these can be read aloud to share the experience, or privately to offer comfort, and reread countlessly to provide a sometimes-needed reminder of love and support.

Jewellery and Accessories

Small items like jewellery and accessories can embody a considerable amount of meaning and hold a great deal of personal value. Particularly so, wedding rings, necklaces, heirlooms, watches and so on can all retain deep personal significance and help to trigger core memories. If it’s safe to do so, place key pieces in a keepsake box to remind those living with dementia of important milestones, beloved relationships, and cherished moments throughout life.

Personal Mementos

Be it a well-loved book, a ticket from a memorable event, a shell from a favourite beach, or childhood possession, there are all sorts of personal mementos that can be included in  keepsake boxes. Think about items that hold sentimental value, as well as those that connect and reconnect with passions and interests, for the best ideas. If recall is becoming more challenging, these keepsake boxes can really help those with dementia and conjure both conscious and subconscious feelings of happiness and warmth.

Textiles and Fabrics

For a trip down memory lane, certain textiles and fabrics can be really evocative. For example, a scarf, piece of clothing or blanket can have love and familiarity woven into them through smell, sight and touch. Often providing physical and emotional comfort, these tactile items are a great means of stimulation and support and can encourage really positive emotional responses and memories.

Music and Audio

It’s widely recognised that music and audio can stimulate powerful, visceral reactions in people of all ages. Transporting listeners back to a certain period or moment in time and evoking a wide range of emotions, from calm to euphoria, it offers a really wonderful outlet. Not only helping to access deep emotions and ingrained memories, but music can also offer an important means of expression too. To make the best keepsake box for those living with dementia, be sure to include CDs or playlists of favourites songs, sounds or stories. From the lullaby of rolling waves to soul-stirring songs, music and audio have huge benefits.

What Not to Put in a Keepsake Box

Memory boxes can be a really beneficial resource for those living with dementia. Of course, it goes without saying that each item included should come from a positive place, and any negative connotations should be completely avoided. Not only that, it’s also really important to consider safety when curating and maintaining them too. Here are just some things to consider when creating a keepsake box.

Avoid Sharp or Breakable Objects

When creating a keepsake box, be sure to avoid any items that have sharp edges or that have easily breakable parts. This helps to avoid any heartache over broken items and, importantly, helps to prevent injury too.

Consider Size and Weight

Choose items that are relatively lightweight and easy to handle to go into memory boxes. Large or heavy objects can pose a number of difficulties and hazards and easily lead to frustration or even injury.

Use Non-Toxic Materials

For both personal safety and the prosperity and longevity of keepsake boxes, ensure that everything enclosed is made from non-toxic materials. Completely avoid dangerous or corrosive items, such as batteries.

Avoid Loose Parts

Items with small, detachable parts should be avoided from keepsake boxes. These can be difficult to handle and maintain, and also act as choking hazards as well. It’s also important to consider the risks of loose items like confectionery, which may not be safe.