Dorothy House launches Memory Box initiative

Dorothy House is proud to announce that the Memory Box initiative has been launched; a project instigated by Megan McGee, Registered Nurse on our Inpatient Unit.

What are Dorothy House Memory Boxes?

A Memory Box is filled with items designed to support families of patients who have died on the Dorothy House Inpatient Unit (IPU) through the initial stages of grief. With these items, we aim to offer comfort and support to the bereaved and to honour the memory of those who have died under our care.

What is inside a Memory Box?

• A tin to store a lock of hair
• An organza jewellery bag
• A condolence card from the Dorothy House IPU
• A seeded wildflower heart gift
• Two knitted hearts – one to stay with patient – one for the family
• One hand print kit with paper, an inkless wipe and instructions for use
• A remembrance book form
• Three informational support leaflets:
  • ‘Coping with dying’
  • ‘Remembering your loved one in support of Dorothy House’
  • ‘Change, loss, grief and hope’
• One purple bow ribbon

Who is given a Memory Box?

Every patient’s family will be offered a Memory Box after their loved one’s death. When the patient dies, the box will be given to the family during the ‘what happens next’ chat with the Nurse who was in charge of the patient’s care.

The box will be opened during the discussion and the Nurse will go through the contents with the family, finally closing the box and tying it up with the purple ribbon for the family to open themselves later. Children are offered special boxes, which include additional age appropriate children’s books and a soft toy.

Where did the Dorothy House Memory Boxes concept come from?

“These boxes are a small and tangible act of love, respect and kindness that we can give to the families we serve in hopes that they will bring comfort and honour the legacy of their loved ones who died here with us.” – Helen McGee

Megan McGee’s initiative was sparked by the thought, ‘How can we better honour the legacy of the people we work so hard to serve here on IPU and bring comfort to their families?’

Megan’s mother, Sue McGee, generously made a donation to fund the first fifty memory boxes in memory of her best friend who was a patient at Dorothy House. We estimate that we will need approximately 200 boxes per year.

We hope that the introduction of the Memory Boxes will aid families in their grief journeys, and provide them with comfort and solace.