Introduction

Averill House Care Home has long championed person-centred, emotionally supportive care. In 2026, the home became one of the first in the UK to partner with Lasted, a digital legacy service designed to help individuals record their personal stories, messages, and reflections for their loved ones.

Lasted enables people to create a secure digital time capsule that is passed on to families after they have passed away, preserving cherished memories for up to 100 years.

About Lasted

Based in Manchester, Lasted transforms personal memories into lasting legacies. Residents record video messages, life stories, and reflections, which are then stored safely and delivered privately to family members at the appropriate time.

This allows families to keep not only a resident’s story—but their voice, character, and presence—alive for generations.

Residents at Averill House and Dementia Care

Averill House supports residents living with dementia, many of whom face challenges with memory, communication, or orientation. Despite this, residents have fully embraced the Lasted initiative.

Reminiscence-based activity—such as storytelling and discussing meaningful life experiences—has proven benefits for individuals living with dementia, helping stimulate cognition and support emotional wellbeing.

Residents have enjoyed sharing:

• Wedding memories

• Stories of raising their children

• Early careers and family traditions

• Holidays and cherished places

• Personal values and messages for their loved ones

How Lasted Works at Averill House

Resident Support and Involvement

Residents living with dementia are supported sensitively to decide what memories and messages they wish to record.

Memory Exploration

Staff use prompts such as photographs, familiar music, and objects to help residents recall long-term memories—an effective dementia-friendly approach.

Comfortable Filming Sessions

Filming takes place in a calm, relaxed environment where residents feel at ease speaking naturally about their lives.

Secure Digital Preservation

Videos are uploaded to the individual’s private Lasted digital time capsule, preserved securely for up to a century.

Family Access

When the resident passes away, designated family members receive a secure link to all recordings, allowing them to keep these memories forever.

Benefits for Residents Living With Dementia

1. Strengthening Identity
   Sharing stories reinforces a resident’s sense of identity, often drawing from long-term memories that remain intact despite dementia.

2. Emotional Wellbeing
   Residents enjoy talking about meaningful life events, which can spark joy, comfort, and pride.

3. Cognitive Stimulation
   The reminiscence involved in the Lasted process encourages cognitive engagement.

4. A Lasting Legacy
   Residents take pride in leaving something meaningful for their families to cherish.

Benefits for Families

1. A Deep Emotional Connection
   Families keep their loved one’s personality, voice, gestures, and stories forever.

2. Comfort Through Grief
   Being able to revisit personal messages provides great reassurance during bereavement.

3. Preserved Family History
   Future generations gain access to authentic, firsthand stories.

4. Focus on the Person, Not the Illness
   Families experience the resident’s whole identity—not just their dementia.

Resident Quotes

“I can’t always remember what I did yesterday, but I remember the day I married my John like it was this morning. Talking about it makes me smile again.”
— Resident, Averill House

“My children were my whole world. It feels lovely to talk about them and know they’ll hear this one day.”
— Resident, Averill House

“It’s nice to be asked about my life. You forget how much you’ve lived until someone wants to listen.”
— Resident, Averill House

“If my family can see these videos in the future, they’ll know I was thinking of them right to the end.”
— Resident, Averill House

Staff Reflections and Leadership

Quote from Arlette Naylor, Wellbeing Lead

“Lasted has been one of the most meaningful projects I’ve been involved in. Supporting our residents to share their memories and seeing the joy it brings them has been incredibly rewarding. It’s a privilege to help them leave something so precious for their families, and I am proud to be part of a service that honours their stories so beautifully.”
— Arlette Naylor, Wellbeing Lead

Quote from Clare Stott, Home Manager

“We feel incredibly privileged at Averill House to be part of a growing service like Lasted. Watching our residents living with dementia rediscover their stories and create lasting messages for their families has been truly moving. Being able to help preserve these memories for future generations is an honour, and we are grateful to contribute to something so meaningful.”
— Clare Stott, Home Manager

Averill House’s National Role in Promoting Lasted

Because Averill House adopted the programme early and demonstrated exceptional engagement, the home was selected to feature in Lasted’s national promotional video. This places the home at the forefront of compassionate, innovative dementia care and highlights the profound emotional value of digital memory preservation.

Conclusion

Lasted has introduced a deeply meaningful way for residents living with dementia at Averill House to preserve their personal histories and create heartfelt messages for the people they love.

By embracing Lasted early and contributing to its national promotional work, Averill House continues to lead the way in modern, emotionally intelligent dementia care—ensuring every resident’s voice, story, and legacy is cherished and remembered.

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