‘NEWSPAPERS’ recording dementia sufferers’ lives are being developed to help combat memory loss.

Dementia experts last night spoke about the project ahead of World Alzheimer’s Day today.

Staff at Marston Court Care Home in Marston launched the newspaper project earlier this year to help trigger residents’ personal memories.

They have been working with patients and their families to gather pictures for key moments in the residents’ lives.

Activities co-ordinator Paul Lucas said: “We look at the history of the residents, where they were born, their first school, first job, maiden name, children’s names and so on.

“So far we have completed 15 of the residents’ stories and are hoping to complete all 39 of them.”

The project was Mr Lucas’ idea after he thought people would find a newspaper format easier to read and remember than a lengthy piece.

It is part of a wider project called Life Story Work, which involves working with relatives and patients to compile information about the residents’ likes and dislikes, routines, preferred lifestyle and past experiences.

The theme of World Alzheimer’s Day this year is ‘faces of dementia’ which aims to highlight the personal stories behind the disease.

In Oxfordshire there are estimated to be 7,500 people aged over 65 and a further 160 younger people who have dementia.

Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia, and although there is no cure for it, anti-psychotic drugs can help slow its progression.

l Events are taking place across the country to raise awareness of World Alzheimer’s Day, including a memory walk in Banbury on October 2. See memorywalk.org.uk for more information.