LAUSR

ABSTRACT Many archives provide reminiscence-based services for people with dementia. Considering that there are currently 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK, a figure which is expected to rise to over 1 million by 2020, makes these services extremely significant because of the impact they can have on an individual with dementia. Through exploring and answering the questions: what is the suitability of archives providing reminiscence-based services and what is the impact of such services, its value can be understood. By collecting and analysing questionnaire and interview responses, an understanding of the suitability of the services was gained. This qualitative methodology demonstrated that archives, through their association as memory institutions, the material they contain, and the physical space, all provide evidence of its suitability. To assess the impact of the services, evaluation is necessary, something that is not currently carried out, partly due to the lack of an appropriate framework being in place. By developing and adapting the available frameworks from the wider arts and health literature an appropriate framework has been suggested in this study.