The study found that many health and social care services in England now use life story work, but the ways in which they do this vary considerably.
Researchers compiled evidence on life story work in dementia care through a systematic literature review, in addition to listening first-hand to views of people with dementia, family carers and professionals through a series of focus groups.
Conducting a national survey of family carers and dementia service providers, along with an in-depth analysis of life story work in six care homes and four hospital wards, researchers tested the feasibility of doing a full scale evaluation of life story work in these settings.
The study concluded that life story work has the potential to help people with dementia, but a full scale evaluation is needed.