Archive film of Scotland’s past has surprising results – therapy for those with Alzheimer’s and dementia
This reminiscence film therapy is the brainchild of Dr Don Carney, a retired university lecturer with a passion and a talent for capturing on film the lives, stories and activities of ‘ordinary’ people in Scotland.
From his unique archive of over 500 hours of footage, he has put together a number of short films – ranging from 10 minutes to over 45 minutes – which are helping those living with dementia connect with their past, and providing respite for those who care for them.
The clips include nature, rural scenes and activities, Clydesdale horses, food, music and popular LPs from the 60s to the 80s – even the antics of their neighbour’s ginger tom cat – with stories and images which find the places where their cherished past memories hide.
“There was one gentleman in Banffshire who used to work on farms,” Dr Carney recalls as an example. “Seeing the Little Grey Ferguson tractor in action in our clip took him back to his life in agriculture and sparked conversations hitherto unknown and unheard by his wife who was his carer.”
She said ‘He became my loving husband again and that feeling was repeated each time we showed the clip up to two weeks before he died. Thanks for what you have done for our family’.
Memories as therapy
Dr Carney, an award-winning heritage film maker, and his wife Dot, used their own money to finance the project from their home in Aberdeenshire and spent three years working to produce the clips with involvement from carers, people with dementia and professionals in the field.
“I believe I can make a difference to my fellow human beings and society, this is not profit-orientated,” said Dr Carney.His research showed there was nothing available digitally 24/7 for people with dementia and nothing tangible to access for those caring for them. Even when in Scotland in 2023 there was £16.5 million pounds spent on dementia research. Where is that money going and what benefits do people living with dementia get year on year from such sums Don asks”
“We have all this resource in our archive and we can do something good with it, and improve the health and wellbeing for people with these two progressive conditions,” he said.
Dr Carney introduces each clip in his and friendly manner. The reminiscence clips play on any modern device and once downloaded, can be viewed countless times. They can even be sourced by mail order on a data stick to plug in and play. At the end of the film he returns to the screen to ask a simple question related to the clip, designed to spark discussion.
See clips for yourself
The current archive of films, feature a variety of topics of different lengths, all have trailers which can be viewed on the website along with carer support and training notes before committing to buy. At just £9 for a 10-minute reminiscence therapy film up to £25 for one over 45 minutes’ long they offer a value for money non drug support tool and resource for private individuals. Companies, including care homes, can buy the full catalogue of 14 films for £690 to provide a resource for group therapy, that can be used year on year.
Any money raised will help fund the project into the future, and enable him to delve back into the archives to produce more reminiscence therapy clips.
Looking back to the past to bring dementia therapy into the present
He started collecting memories on film whilst researching the 300+ year history of his family’s farm. This led to a small business, Carney Heritage Productions, which still exists today. His Scottish heritage footage has been shown in countries around the world.
“We were getting feedback from people saying the heritage videos were taking people with dementia back to the past, and carers telling us that watching the films took their loved ones out of their dementia.”
Not only were they engaged whilst watching the film, carers said it often led to extended periods of alertness, conversation and laughter.
“Once we knew what a profound effect it was having, both on those with dementia and in terms of providing some respite for carers, we started to put this resource together, totally customised for people with these two progressive conditions.”
He added: “The dementia films have diverse endorsements, and our work has even had a letter of support from The Palace.”
Take a look for yourself on the website www.alzheimerstherapy.co.uk to find out more, read endorsements and view the trailers. You can also find out more about the Scottish Heritage clips at, www.scottishheritage.co.uk which are also approved as educational tools and have been used in schools throughout Scotland for over 20 years.