LIFE BIOGRAPHY PROJECT

In our ongoing effort to personalize the care of our residents, an interdisciplinary

committee at Maimonides Geriatric Centre has developed the Biography Project. This award-winning project involves a life review of our residents, including unique qualities, strengths, significant events and lifestyle. We count on our future and current residents and their families to provide us with the necessary information. This can be done by completing the attached questionnaire, or requesting an electronic version from our admitting office. Please include any information which you think would help us to provide “more than care”. Photographs enrich the biography, so please share these with us. We will scan the photos and return the originals to you.

You can expect that your efforts will provide the interdisciplinary team with the necessary information to create a Life Biography of the resident.

The information you submit will be used to complete a Power Point presentation about the resident. Once we receive the information from you, a member of our interdisciplinary team will be in contact with you to plan the production. Once completed, and with your consent, this will be shown to staff to help them better understand the individual, and adapt the care plan to best meet his or her needs. This presentation helps the staff to appreciate our residents as individuals, and in turn, to individualize the care. The earlier you provide us with the information, the sooner we can produce the Power Point format and show it to the team working with the resident. Family members will be invited to view the presentation, and a copy of the project will be provided.

Should you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact Susan Cliff at 514-483-2121, extension 2286

Biography Project

Life History Questionnaire

PROFILE OF INDIVIDUAL THROUGHOUT LIFESPAN

Name: (meaning of name if known, was resident named after someone and if so, who)

Nickname:(reason/source of)

Birth date, place of birth:

Names of important people: (Information about and relationships with)

Mother:

Father:

Siblings:

Spouse/ Partner:

Children:

Grandchildren:

Significant Others:

Education: (Details, experiences, and accomplishments. Include mother tongue and other languages spoken/written)

Significant life events (What changes, sickness, conflicts, experiences i.e. Holocaust, did the individual encounter?)

Character traits, personality, and values important to the individual:

Reactions to worry, stress and change:

Religion/spiritual practices:

Family Life and relationships:

Work life: (Occupation, importance of work, details around retirement)

Leisure, Hobbies and Interests: (Favourite memories, preference for activities with family/friends, large group or alone)

Outings/Travel/Entertainment:(Special memories of vacations, favourite movies,music, theatre productions)

Community Involvement:

Pets: (Types, names, special memories)

Special Achievements:

LIFESTYLE

(Across the lifespan)

Personal Hygiene: (Bath or shower preferred, frequency, time of day, reaction to hot and cold water)

Diet: (Number of meals, favourite dishes, snacks, diet preference)

Dress: (Gets dressed on waking, after breakfast or other time, favourite colours and clothes,particular clothing preferences, interest in fashion)

Sleep: (Habits before going to sleep i.e. reading, snack etc, bedtime,wake up time, nap, work hours and schedule)

Household management/maintenance/ repairs: (Responsibilities such as housework, laundry, cooking, financial/budget management, painting, plumbing, gardening, interior decorating etc.)

What effect, in your opinion, has the individual’s health problems had on him/her, you, and others?

BIOGRAPHY QUESTIONNAIRE COMPLETED BY:

Name:Date:

References available on request