4 Inspired ways to capture your loved ones’ stories and share their legacy.

Have you wished you could replay a great conversation with a senior loved one – perhaps a chat you had on a long drive together, or gathered around the dinner table – that you wish you could replay ?

Fortunately, there are more ways than ever to preserve and share your loved ones’ stories, from videos to old-fashioned memory books.

Collecting your loved one’s stories to create a legacy is a meaningful and fun way to honor them and enrich family connections. Read on to learn more about creating a legacy, plus get helpful tips for involving the whole family.

Why Create a Legacy?

Collecting and documenting the story of your loved one’s life tells them that their stories, experiences, and wisdom matter. And, everyone benefits: seniors’ stories are treasured sources of wisdom (and often humor) that link us to the past and offer guidance for the future.  

Plus, creating a legacy can involve the whole family – even those who live far away – drawing on family members’ unique memories and talents.

4 Ways to Preserve and Share Seniors’ Stories

Preserving and sharing your loved ones’ best stories is easier than ever. With the help of technology, even classic approaches like memory books or scrapbooks can be kept fresh and shared with the whole family.

Here are four great ways to get started preserving and sharing your loved one’s stories.

1.    Record Your Loved One’s Voice

If your loved one is a talker, voice or video recordings may be just the right fit. You can use your phone’s camera or voice memo feature, or you can open a meeting program like Zoom or Teams and start recording. (If you’ve got a budding videographer in the family, this is a great time to involve them!)

Start the conversation with thoughtful questions, like:

• What was a typical day like during your childhood? What is your favorite memory from childhood?
• What are you most proud of?
• What advice would you give to your younger self?

Or, you might start the conversation by asking them to tell that one story they tell at every family event. Then, ask follow-up questions.

You can find even more storytelling prompts here: The Power of Seniors Stories.

If your loved one is reluctant to share, reassure them that their stories are valuable. Try asking specific questions to spark their memory, like questions about their favorite meal growing up, their first job, or their pets.

2.    Create a Scrapbook or Memory Book

Memory books are a beautiful and tangible way to honor your loved one and tell their story. Collect photos, documents, and memorabilia from them and from other family members, too. Include captions and stories describing each item.

Best of all, even an old-fashioned scrapbook or memory book can be shared electronically. While the original can stay with your loved one, the pages can be scanned and compiled into a digital or reprinted copy to share with friends and family, using services like EverPresent (which has in-person locations in NJ) or Shutterfly.

3.    Digitize Old Photos and Documents

Speaking of scanning… if you have a box (or boxes!) of old photos, VHS tapes, slides, and memorabilia, digitizing can help ensure that these items are preserved for future generations. While there are many mail-in services for digitizing media, you may also find one locally if you’re more comfortable transporting items yourself.

Digital files are easy to preserve and share with family near and far. They can be copied onto modern physical media and stored in a secure location, and they can be stored securely in the cloud for additional safekeeping and for family to view.

Plus, organizing the digital files by type or year is a great way to involve other family members. Their time and knowledge can be invaluable, especially when there are lots of materials to sort.

4.    Research Family History & Genealogy

Family history and ancestry research can be a thoughtful way to honor your loved one’s legacy. Your findings may offer important insights into your loved one’s story and help guide conversations with them.

Resources for family history research online are abundant, including Ancestry.com and MyHeritage. You can also get started with free resources from WikiTree, and from your local library.

Curious about genealogy research? So were Sunnyside Manor residents! Learn about their surprising findings.

Tips for Creating and Sharing a Family Legacy

Here are some tips for making a family legacy project fun and rewarding for the whole family.

• Take your time and enjoy the process. You’ll likely find a lot of information to organize and many stories to tell!
• Everyone has a story. Ask family members to contribute their favorite stories about your loved one in the way they’re most comfortable – video, voice, writing, or photos.
• If you’re recording stories, plan on more than one recording session, whether you’re talking to your senior loved one or other family members. The first conversation is likely to inspire even more memories.
• Enlist younger family members to help record and edit videos. A video slideshow can be a perfect centerpiece for family gatherings, especially loved ones’ birthdays or anniversaries.
• Keep the process going: start a family journal online where everyone can contribute photos, memories and stories from family events. It can be a shared folder, or even a family website or blog.

Seniors’ stories continue to be written each and every day. At Sunnyside Manor, we’re honored to have been a part of seniors’ stories for over 100 years. You can see our legacy of care in action by joining us for a tour or an event, or on our social media.

Learn More About Why Families Rely On Sunnyside Manor

When you have questions about senior living, we are here to help. Sunnyside Manor offers assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing and rehabilitation. Learn more about Sunnyside Manor’s resources for caregivers. Whether you’re looking for short-term support or a longer-term plan, begin with our “Getting Started” guide. Please call us at 888-696-2052 to speak with a senior living expert.

Sunnyside Manor, located in Wall NJ, is the area’s premier family-owned senior living community. The community features three distinctive neighborhoods: Independence ‘Plus’ Assisted Living, Recollections Memory Care, and Long-Term Care & Short-Term Rehabilitation. Respite stays and palliative care are available in all neighborhoods.