Services

North Shore Hospice LIFE REVIEW

Now that you have been introduced to the some of services offered at North Shore Hospice, the following introduction to our ‘Life Review’ service might be of interest to you.
TELLING YOUR STORY – Our Life Review Service

At this time in your life you may be reflecting on all that you have done and achieved.  You might remember how much life has changed since your childhood or what it was like when you were your children’s or grandchildren’s ages.  Perhaps there are family stories about your parents or grandparents that you are the last to remember.  Have you ever thought about writing it down?

North Shore Hospice offers you an opportunity to have your story recorded. We have a wonderful team of volunteers who work with you, and provide this exciting service for a very small charge for photocopying, scanning of photos and binding.

What do you write about?

Well, that is up to you. It is your life story and you choose.  You might like to:

• Talk about the key points from your birth up until today
• Relate your memories of special moments or periods in your life.
• Tell the stories behind a selection of your favourite family photographs
• Convey messages through letters for family members
• Express your feelings about life as you have experienced it, or your hopes and visions for the future of those you love.

There are no rules and format to follow. These are your stories and many patients have enjoyed the opportunity to tell them.  Looking back down memory lane they are often amazed at just how full their lives have been.

How does it work?
Our volunteers come into your home and listen to your story using a tape recorder to get your story word for word.  They then go and type it up and the next time you meet you are able to edit this draft copy.  On average stories are written over six weeks. Some people can do it over three days. The time taken depends on you. Their visits are paced so that you don’t get too tired.

Once your story is completed you can add photos before it is bound and given to you for you to share with your friends and family.

 If you are interested in this service then please tell one of our nurses, or ring and leave a message for Maxine Pye or Georgina Greville who co-ordinate the service at North Shore Hospice (4861688). 

Sound interesting?
The following thoughts might help you get some idea of how to begin.  You might like to jot down some ideas in response to three initial questions:

Who am I leaving this for?

What do I hope having this will mean for them?

Given the answer to the first two questions; What will I talk about?
What periods of my life are important to cover?
What aspects of my experience would I like to include?
Or what stories would I like to tell or to pass on?

You might like to discuss these questions with your family before you talk about them with the volunteer who records your story.  Keep this sheet then, to remind you when you are not sure what to talk about or to help keep ‘on track’.