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People Fixing The World

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Discover the people and the projects trying to make the world a better place

Discover the people and the projects trying to make the world a better place.

Discover the people and the projects trying to make the world a better place.

A weekly programme looking at common challenges around the world and the creative ways people are trying to tackle them.

Presenter Myra Anubi speaks to reporters, experts and innovators to investigate how effective different solutions are, share their successes and inspire listeners with what is possible.

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People Fixing The World: The power of a backstory

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The power of a backstory

04/07/2023 GMT

BBC World Service - People Fixing The World, The power of a backstory

How mini-biographies are helping elderly patients connect with their carers

How mini-biographies are helping elderly patients connect with their carers.

How do you care for someone properly in a hospital or care home if you don’t know who they are? 
 
With US hospitals and care homes seeing fast turnovers of staff, many clinicians don’t get the chance to learn their residents’ backstories. This can lead to patients feeling isolated and misunderstood. Meanwhile, staff miss out on valuable insights which could be incorporated into treatment plans or used to make someone’s hospital stay more comfortable.
 
But a start-up called MemoryWell is working to fix this by hiring professional writers to create short biographies of residents that get pinned up on their walls. It’s helping staff personalise care for patients and it’s led to valuable points of connection at what can be a difficult and lonely time.

Presenter: Myra Anubi
Reporter/producer: William Kremer
Series producer: Tom Colls
Sound mix: Hal Haines
Editor: Penny Murphy

Email: peoplefixingtheworld@bbc.co.uk

Image: Dot being interviewed in her room.

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