November is Family Stories Month which makes it a fantastic time to sit down with your senior loved ones and record some of the family history. Your senior parent, aunt, uncle, or grandparent has a lot of family history to share. Recording those stories now means that you will be able to preserve them for your kids and for the next generation after them.

And recording stories is easier than ever before. Every smart phone has a camera so you can video your senior loved one telling stories and an audio recorder. Videos of a senior loved one telling family stories are a wonderful keepsake that will keep your senior parent alive for future generations. Here are some tips you can use to make sure your family story recordings are the best quality:

Set The Stage

Make sure that your senior loved one has a comfortable chair to sit it and some water nearby or something else they like to drink. Your senior loved one will be better able to relax and tell their stories if they have a comfortable spot to sit in while they do it. If other people are there ask them to turn off their phones or put them on silent so there won’t be any distractions or interruptions. A home care provider can help you get the setting right for your senior loved one.

Get The Lighting Right

Use a tripod to hold the camera or phone and check the lighting before you start recording. Add a ring light or other light source if the room is dark or if you’re going to be recording at night. Check the position of the light and make sure it’s in a good spot where it will provide enough light without blinding you or your senior loved one. Don’t use candles or other ambient lights. They might look good to you in the room but they won’t provide enough light for the video to turn out well. You senior parent’s home care provider can also help set up the lighting

Use A Mic

If you’re using a smart phone to record these videos use a mic. The microphone on the smart phone probably won’t be powerful enough to pick up everything that your senior loved one is saying, especially if they have a soft voice. Talking loudly could tire your senior loved one out as they are telling stories so get a mic that can sit on a table near them and amplify their voice. It will be less tiresome for them and the video will have clearer sound.

Have Prompts Ready

Your senior loved one may not really know where to begin telling the family stories so have some prompts ready to direct them. You can ask them to tell the story of first meeting their spouse. Or ask about their favorite childhood memory. Another good prompt is to ask them to describe the house they grew up in. You can get the family involved and have everyone write down a prompt. Then your senior loved one can pick one from a bowl and start with that story.

Call today: (478)-994-9535. Home Care Matters Provides Award-Winning, Trusted Home Care in Bibb, Butts, Crawford, Henry, Houston, Jones, Lamar, Monroe, Spalding, and Upson Counties.

We serve the towns of Forsyth, Macon, McDonough, Griffin, Jonesboro, Roberta, Barnesville, Gray, Thomaston, and Jackson.

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Valerie Darling

Founder, Owner at Home Care Matters

Valerie was born in Miami, FL and after a few family moves, grew up locally in the Marietta, GA area.Valerie is the oldest of 4 (3 younger brothers).She is married and has one child.Valerie is the Founder, Owner and CEO of Home Care Matters.Valerie’s mom, Dee, is the inspiration and primary driver as the how and why the business was born.Valerie says, “My mom is never far from our thoughts.Mom was an integral part of developing and starting HCM before she passed away.Our goal is to stay true to her memory and continue to honor her with the love, values, and ethics she taught us.”

Valerie has the unique experience with home care as she has experienced it from both ends of the spectrum, as a caregiver and as needing care herself as a cancer survivor. Valerie says, “Taking care of someone you love is a physically, mentally and demanding labor of love.Taking care of my mom was the hardest thing I have ever done. It has given me an insight and perspective not many people understand unless you are doing it or have done it.I loved taking care of my mom.I love helping others take care of their love ones too.And now that I’ve been sick, it’s given me a whole new level of empathy and understanding for those who are sick and need help.”

Valerie’s schedule varies daily, but she loves visiting with our clients, families, caregivers, our network partners and being in the office.Says Valerie, “Every day is different, but I wake up excited about what we do, inspired by our team, clients and caregivers.I strive to be a resource to the community.I love my team and I love what we do every day. I like to think my mom would be proud.”

You can reach Valerie by email (Valerie@homecarematters.com) or in our office (770.965.4004).

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