House of Memories offers unique learning experience to people living with dementia and their care workers

House of Memories is an award winning training programme created by National Museums Liverpool.

The programme was created in 2012 and was developed to follow the National Dementia Strategy and the Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia 2012 and has trained more than 8,000 carers across Liverpool and the North and West Midlands.

Executive director of Education and Visitors at National Museums Liverpool, Carol Rogers said: "We passionately believe in the power of House of Memories to inform practice, transform relationships and enhance the wellbeing of people living with dementia.

"It's estimated that more than 800,000 people are currently living with dementia in the UK, and 550,000 people are acting as primary carers. More action is needed nationally to understand how we can support people living with dementia."

House of Memories offers a unique training experience to help carers of people living with dementia, as well as organised ‘Buddy’ days for families, volunteer carers and friends of people living with dementia.

’House of Memories has the power to enhance the well-being of people living with dementia’

The House of Memories programme provides carers with information and skills to help them provide the best life experiences and care for those they care for. The programme includes access to memory resources, events and ideas for reminiscence activities.

The initiative provides care workers and participants with a basic understanding of different types of dementia, the challenges faced by carers of people living with dementia, and how to encourage memories through different activities and memory.

House of Memories was originally aimed at health and social care professionals to help inform and develop their practice in providing care and improving the quality of life for and activities for those in their care.

With the support of the Department of Health, during 2013 – 2014 House of Memories was able to expand outside of Liverpool, working with health and social care organisations and museums in the North of England and West Midlands to bring the training to wider audience.

Two years after House of Memories began in 2014, it evolved to incorporate local housing associations to encourage their tenants, workforce, and communities to increase their awareness and understanding of dementia.

The Museum of Liverpool launched ‘Buddy’ days, aimed at family carers, friends and volunteers, offering them the chance to find out more about the support and activities provided by National Museums of Liverpool.

Alongside House of Memories, the Museum of Liverpool runs a number of different activities for older people, including Memory Walks and ‘Meet Me at the Museum’ which take place on a weekly basis.

Rediscover forgotten memories from their childhoods

Events hosted by the Museum are free and there is no need to book or commit to attending every week. The different activities are popular with older people, who return week on week to participate in reminiscence sessions.

‘When I was little’ is held at the Museum of Liverpool and was created for young children to enjoy with their grandparents or older family members and share memories from the past.

Visitors have the chance to borrow a backpack, filled with instructions and activities to help them find their way around the museum and rediscover forgotten memories from their childhoods.

During 2014, the museum launched a free Memory Suitcase service to help people living with dementia in different care settings. Suitcases were created with the support of community groups in Merseyside and are themed. Each case if filled with different objects from the past, memorabilia and photographs to be used in groups and encourage conversation.

National Museums Liverpool’s House of Memories programme recognises the important role museums have in collecting, preserving and archiving memories that are significant to people living with dementia.

The House of Memories programme is an example of how cultural institutions, such as libraries, theatres and arts centres can offer health and social care organisations increased knowledge, skills and access to historical resources.

'Making a real difference to people whose lives are touched by dementia'

Ms Rogers added: "National Museums Liverpool has over a decade of experience working with older people. We’ve taken up the challenge, and are proud to see that it’s working and making a real difference to people whose lives are touched by dementia."

National Museums Liverpool launched the ‘My House of Memories’ app in June 2014 and was announced as winner of the 2014 Innovate Dementia European awards. The app can be downloaded on Apple and Android tablets and includes information covered in the House of Memories training programme, as well ideas for reminiscence activities.

In June 2015, House of Memories training will be held in the South East, at The British Museum, The Cinema Museum and Hall Place and Gardens in Bexley, participants will have the opportunity to learn about the House of Memories app.

Venues in the South East have added objects from their collections to the app to help people living with dementia and their carer’s.

National Museums Liverpool plans to improve the House of Memories programme, memory suitcases and app to introduce them as part of a nationwide initiative, across the UK and internationally.

In addition, Nation Museums Liverpool, hopes to promote the idea that every care home in the country has access to a free digital tablet, allowing residents with dementia and their carers to benefit from the My House of Memories app and other emerging digital technologies.

For more information on House of Memories, visit; http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/learning/projects/house-of-memories/