Ken’s Lifestory goes nationwide

PIONEER: Ken Holt

A NATIONAL training project based on a scheme pioneered by an Oldham man is launched today.

Carers and health professionals across the country will benefit from the Lifestory training, which was the brainchild of Oldhamer Ken Holt, who cared for his wife prior to her going into a nursing home with Alzheimer’s disease.

Mr Holt, who died in September last year aged 82, was instrumental in pushing forward the concept which involved documenting his wife Alice’s life history through family, friends and memories to help the staff caring for her.

The Department of Health granted social enterprise the Lifestory Network funding to train 500 people, including carers and health professionals, in the principles behind Lifestory.

Network director in Oldham Polly Kaiser said: “We had a big group of people who were interested in launching a national network.

“I put in a bid to the Department of Health for the dementia strategy. This would help develop the workforce, and we won the bid.

“There’s face-to-face training, individual and group exercises and sharing experiences with an emphasis on the importance of relationships and good quality care.”

Lifestory, which won a number of accolades including the Pride in Oldham group award in 2005, aims to help carers provide a more personal service to their clients.

Ms Kaiser, a consultant psychologist for Pennine Care who has been involved in Life Story since its inception, first met Ken, from Shaw, in 2002.

“I interviewed Ken in 2008. I asked him what was his vision for Lifestory and he just said ‘a national network’. That just blew me away.”

The Lifestory Group completed a pilot scheme in 2005, which saw the distribution of 200 pocket books to carers, day-care centres, hospital wards, residential homes and Age Concern. The books allow loved ones, or carers, to compile a personal history containing information about family, friends, favourite things, memories and medical background.

The book stays with the client, providing professionals and carers with information. The introductory one-day course starts today in York.