About

Arranging the family tree. Supports memory and stimulates communication. Telling family history.
Mild to moderate stage of dementia
Who is the game for – The game is suitable for professionals in a day center and residential service, as well as for a family caring for a loved one with dementia. It is suitable for people with mild to moderate dementia.

Necessary materials – tree model, portrait photos of family members (up to 2-3), hooks for hanging photos of the tree

Preliminary preparation – select the appropriate portrait photos (eg son, daughter-in-law, grandson) of family members in the Memory Box. Put the hooks together as well (eg in a bag) and also put them in the Memory Box. Put the model of the tree inside. If there are more than one participant with dementia, it is good for everyone to have their own memory box.
Participants – a person with dementia (1, 2 to 3), caregiver.
This game is run by a caregiver and can have 1 to 3 participants with dementia
Who is the game for – The game is suitable for professionals in a day center and residential service, as well as for a family caring for a loved one with dementia. It is suitable for people with mild to moderate dementia.
Location – Choose a quiet place where the person with dementia and the person around you feel comfortable, e.g. around a dining table or coffee table where photos can be spread. There must be enough light. Make sure the person with dementia has taken glasses or other aids such as a hearing aid so that you can communicate.

Presentation – explain what you will do together, in a calm and fun way.
Ask the person with dementia to remove the photos, the tree pattern, and the hooks from the Memory Box. (Support him if necessary, but wait for him to take things out of the box)

Talk to the person with dementia about each photo. Encourage him to answer the questions of who this person is and what story he can tell about him. If you are a member of the family, share your memories with the selected photo.

If the game is played in a residential service, encourage each participant to tell others about their loved ones.

Invite him to place the photo in the appropriate place on the tree, having agreed in advance whether the oldest members of the family will be placed at the top or bottom. There should be no more than 3 photos of different family members.

Finally, congratulations on a job well done. Put everything in the Box, agreeing to arrange the rest of the family next time.

When decorating the tree in several consecutive sessions, ask the person with dementia to find a place in the room or common areas where to leave what he made. This will stimulate his memories, will create self-confidence and self-confidence, pride in the work done.