Stories and talk
Look through a photo album
Turn the pages of a family photo album together, pausing to talk about what is in each picture.
Who might enjoy it: People who like family photos, talking about places they have lived and sharing stories at their own pace. Good for a quiet sit-down visit.
- Setup
- About 5 minutes
- Activity
- 15–40 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Mess
- No mess
- Where
- At a table, seated-friendly, bedside
- Help
- Someone nearby
Materials: 4 everyday things, listed below
What you need
- A photo album, or a folder of printed photos you have chosen
- Copies of old or fragile prints, if you have them
- Tissues and a glass of water within reach
- Reading glasses, a magnifier or a lamp, if they help
No need to buy anything special
- No album? Use a few printed photos in a folder, or pictures on a large tablet screen.
- No copies? Scan or photocopy the prints first, and handle only the copies.
What to do
- Sit side by side at a table, or with a lap tray, with the album in easy reach.
- Check that glasses are on and the light is bright enough to see the pictures clearly.
- Let them open the album to any page they like.
- Ask an open question, such as "What can you see here?" or "Tell me about this one."
- Listen to what they say, and accept it without checking or correcting it.
- Turn the page only when they are ready, or ask whether they would like to turn it.
- If a picture brings up sadness, pause, offer a tissue and sit quietly together.
- Close the album gently when they are ready, and rest your hand on the cover.
It is okay to stop or change it
It is fine to stop after one page. Close the album, leave it on the table, and talk about something else or sit quietly together.
Make it easier or different
- Make it easier
- Choose four to six pictures beforehand, one to a page, with a large word written on a sticky note. The person picks which page to look at.
- In bed or an armchair
- Use a small album on a lap tray and turn the pages for them, keeping each session to a few pictures.
- For low vision
- Use enlarged copies in bold, high-contrast prints, and read any captions aloud.
- With children
- A grandchild turns the pages and asks the older adult about each picture, then writes down the stories they choose to share.
Safety
- Some photos bring up sadness or loss. Keep tissues close and do not push a conversation that is upsetting them.
- Handle old prints with clean, dry hands, and use copies for fragile or valuable photos.
- Keep the album on a steady surface so it cannot slide off a lap or tray.
- Check photos for addresses or other private details before showing them to visitors or sharing them online.
These are practical suggestions, not medical advice. You know the person best.
A photo album gives the conversation something to look at, so no one has to find words from nothing. The person chooses the pages and what to say about them, and every answer is the right one. Sharing the album can also start a visit or a phone call.