Research highlights the positive impact of Chronicle’s Snapshot Memory Box on older adults, including those living with dementia

A recent research evaluation by the University of Suffolk has confirmed the positive effects of Chronicle’s innovative Snapshot Memory Box on the wellbeing of older adults including those living with early-stage dementia and/or Alzheimer’s, as well as those at risk of loneliness and isolation. The study also highlighted benefits experienced by loved ones and carers who gifted or supported use of the device.
The research, undertaken with support from a grant from Innovate UK, consisted of a 6-month research evaluation in partnership with the University of Suffolk to assess the impact of Chronicle’s innovative Snapshot Memory Box on the emotional wellbeing for individuals living with dementia, those at risk of isolation, and people in residential, domiciliary, and independent care environments.
The Snapshot Memory Box is a creatively designed photo frame with high-quality audio playback, allowing users to hear familiar voices connected to cherished memories.
Utilising a robust mixed-methods approach—including surveys, focus groups, and one-on-one interviews—the project engaged directly with users1 of the Snapshot Memory Box, as well as their caregivers, supporters, and family members.
Key Research Findings:
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Emotional and Social Impact: The research showed that the Memory Box was enjoyable, emotionally impactful, and simple to use for the clear majority of users. It promotes positive mood, a sense of connection to loved ones through familiar voices, reminds users of shared memories, and stimulates conversation.
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A Gift with Lasting Meaning: People who gifted a box overwhelmingly felt that the Memory Box was a meaningful, intuitive gift that brought emotional comfort and strengthened connections with their loved ones. The device could be used as a conversational stimulant, and/or tool for reassuring loved ones.
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Effectiveness and Stage of Dementia: When the Memory Box is used by those living with dementia and/or Alzheimer’s, consideration of the extent of cognitive impairment is vital to maximise the benefits of the device; the Memory Box is most impactful for those with early stages of the disease(s).
John Royle, Founder and Director of Chronicle said:
“This research underscores the powerful potential for personalized, memory-evoking technology to enhance the emotional wellbeing of older people, including those living with dementia; while also providing connection to their loved ones. Chronicle’s Snapshot Memory Box demonstrates how thoughtful design, storytelling and recordings of the familiar voices of loved ones can bring people comfort, even in the face of cognitive decline or social isolation. Our goal is to enable everyone who can benefit from a Snapshot Box to have access to one.”
Dr Abigail Webb, Clinical Research Fellow at the University of Suffolk said, “The Snapshot Memory Box is so important not just for the people who are gifted, or use the device, but for those who create a Memory Box for their loved ones. It’s often a collective endeavour that brings people together through the design and creation of the device, but also through the meaningful conversations that it opens up. People like to use the Memory Box as a meaningful gift, a tool to reminisce, a souvenir to remind users of loved ones who have passed or who live far away, and as a keepsake for preserving family legacy. Our research unequivocally showed the positive impact of the Snapshot Memory Box.”
Future Opportunities
Based on the research insights, Chronicle expects to focus upon the following areas to enhance opportunities for the Snapshot Memory Box to help people:
1.
Engage with more Care Providers: We would like to make Snapshot boxes an integral part of care provision; making them more widely available to individuals, families and carers.
2.
Expand Research and Trials: We would like to expand our research to further understand how our boxes can be applied within the varying stages of cognitive decline associated with dementia. We would also like to trial solutions within a wider range of care scenarios including with hospitals to further assess how the health and well-being benefits can translate into measurable quality of life benefits and reduced care costs.
3.
Explore Additional Design and Tech Options: We intend to expand on the design options and technology specifications to integrate additional dementia-friendly features such as high colour contrast and varied surface textures.

QUOTES:
“It makes me feel warm inside. I feel as though everyone is there with me in the room and that we are reliving the memories together. I love it.”
“It brings me closer to family feeling I am more connected”
“Brought back happy memories- the children had thought about memories that made them happy and hearing their voices so clearly brought them to life”
“It opened up conversation after listening to it. It’s nice to go down memory lane” “Listening to my daughter and being reminded of lots of wonderful memories”
“My wife was clearly delighted with the Memory Box and would reminisce with the memories that her children had recorded- almost reliving those memories”
“[Mother] absolutely loved it and said it made her really happy. For my mum to show that sort of emotion is a lot. My brother messaged me that evening saying it has made her the happiest she’s been in a long time. I think also it gave us other things to talk about as we discussed the people who had sent her the messages and she loved the poems. My mum said that ‘everyone should have one of these’”
“The audio from the box makes [recipient’s] face light up on her down days when family are not visiting”
“It’s a wonderful gift that can give reassurance to loved ones. To be able to sit down and listen to someone who is close to you via a recording, about happy memories, such a wonderful item and means such a lot”
“[Memory Box is] a fabulous tool for initiating conversations and stimulating memories. It can be a great shared experience whilst also a very meaningful means of personal recollection”
“The ability to couple a sound with the image was the main thing I was looking for in a gift. It was nice and clear, loud enough to hear comfortably.”
“I just took myself away, and it didn’t make me sad, it made me really grateful of what super opportunities [parents] had given me and my sister and what great moments we’d had. So it was a really nice to sort of reminisce.” (gifter)
“You know, I started crying when I listened to all my friends messages [for recording], it was really lovely that they’d taken the time to do it” (gifter)
“We couldn’t quite believe [recipient’s] reaction […] [parents] were really touched, which is quite unlike them […], he’s not very keen normally to speak on the phone and he was really touched and very just kept saying thank you[…] So it obviously really struck a chord with him, you know, to remember those sort of emotions, even if it was just for that, you know, 20 minutes” (gifter)
“For me, seeing my wife’s satisfaction and pleasure from that was great […], it was great, really was very rewarding from my point of view […]” (gifter)
“The reactions when you watch them listen to it, it’s wonderful” (gifter)