In this Q&A, discover how My Life Films is helping people living with dementia reconnect with memories and experiences through My Life TV, an on-demand streaming platform designed to support wellbeing, engagement, and person-centred care in care homes.
What does My Life Films do and how does it support people living with dementia in care homes?
My Life Films is a UK charity dedicated to improving the lives of people living with dementia by using the power of film, storytelling and media to create moments of recognition, joy and connection. Our work is rooted in a simple belief: that a dementia diagnosis should never mean losing sight of the person behind it.
One of our key innovations is My Life TV, the first on-demand streaming service designed specifically for people living with dementia. The platform offers hundreds of hours of carefully curated programming created with the cognitive, emotional and physical needs of people with dementia in mind, particularly those in the mid-to-late stages of the condition.
Our content is intentionally different from mainstream television; it includes calming nature films, reminiscence programmes, music and sing-alongs, quizzes, creative activities and gentle movement sessions such as chair yoga. Each programme is thoughtfully paced and designed to be engaging without being overwhelming, helping residents remain stimulated, relaxed and socially connected.
Our recent report, The Inclusive Screen, explains why this matters: mainstream television often challenges those with dementia due to fast pacing or complex stories. Content created with cognitive accessibility in mind can help ease anxiety, promote participation, and foster meaningful interactions. For care homes, My Life TV is a powerful tool for individual and group engagement. Activity coordinators and care teams can use it for group sessions, themed activities, and one-on-one moments that inspire conversation and connection. Many homes report that My Life TV helps evoke memories, boost participation, and foster shared experiences that strengthen bonds among residents, staff, and families.
Wheelchair, watching tv and applause with senior friends in a home together during retirement. Happy, support or motivation and elderly people with disability clapping while streaming a live eventHow does My Life TV work in practice within a care home environment?
My Life TV is designed to fit seamlessly into daily life in a care home. Accessible via smart TV, tablet, or computer, it lets staff choose programmes on demand, based on residents’ interests, mood, or energy levels.
My Life TV is equally effective for one-to-one engagement. Staff can select films tied to a resident’s hobbies or past experiences, such as gardening, animals, music, or travel, creating meaningful moments that help residents reconnect with memories that matter. This can be particularly helpful for residents who may find large group activities overwhelming or who benefit from more personalised engagement.
Research shows that slower pacing, familiar themes, music, and reminiscence-based storytelling significantly improve accessibility and engagement for people living with dementia. Because the content is already dementia-friendly and easy to access, it requires minimal preparation, enabling even busy care teams to deliver meaningful experiences throughout the day.
What measurable difference have you seen in residents’ wellbeing or engagement?
We’ve been very encouraged by the growing evidence showing that creative, person-centred engagement can make a real difference for people living with dementia.
Independent research published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology found that My Life TV programmes can reduce dementia symptom levels, improve quality of life, and support care teams in delivering more person-centred care. In some cases, it also contributed to a reduction in medication use.
Alongside this clinical evidence, feedback from care homes using My Life TV highlights consistent improvements in residents’ mood, engagement, and social interaction. In surveys across care settings and families, over 80% of respondents reported a positive impact on mood and mental wellbeing, 78% said it created a shared and meaningful activity, and 74% noted it helped manage challenging behaviours. Care staff also reported stronger relationships between residents and improved participation in activities. Indeed, the real impact is often seen in the everyday moments: a resident singing along to a familiar song, recalling a memory sparked by a film, or simply relaxing and feeling at ease.
What does implementation look like for a care home that’s new to My Life TV?
Implementation is designed to be straightforward, supportive, and collaborative, so care homes can start benefiting from My Life TV quickly and confidently.
When a new home joins, the process begins with a guided orientation session for activity providers and care teams. This introduction explains how the platform works, how the content is organised, and provides practical ideas and examples of how other homes have integrated My Life TV into daily routines. This might include themed activity sessions, reminiscence programmes that spark conversation, or gentle movement and wellbeing activities.
A crucial aspect of implementation involves fostering confidence and creativity among staff. Since the content is already dementia-friendly and well-organised, teams are freed from material preparation, allowing them to concentrate on designing meaningful experiences that boost residents’ engagement and wellbeing. For us, implementation increasingly centres on community-building, transforming care homes using My Life TV into part of an expanding network that shares ideas, feedback, and best practices.
What are your ambitions for working more closely with the care sector over the next few years?
We see My Life TV not just as a platform but as a means to build communities of practice where care professionals can exchange insights, experiences, and evidence on effective strategies for residents, learning from one another.
A key aspect of this strategy is strengthening collaborations with organisations like the National Activity Providers Association, which already advocates for meaningful activities in care. Partnering with sector leaders like NAPA enables us to support activity coordinators, exchange best practices, and highlight engagement and wellbeing as essential components of quality care.
We aim to broaden our collaborations with care providers, training organizations, and researchers to ensure that frontline experiences shape our content and services. This includes co-creating new programs, exploring innovative digital media solutions within care settings, and strengthening the evidence supporting creative engagement.
Ultimately, we want to collaborate closely with the care sector to create environments where people with dementia are not defined solely by their diagnosis but are supported to live with dignity, connection, and joy. Through enhanced partnerships, shared learning, and a culture of collaboration, we are committed to turning this vision into reality for care homes across the country.
