For someone in a care home

Hear from the whole family on any day of the week.

The grandchildren, the cousins abroad and the old neighbours each send their news and a story from years back. It becomes a book for the bedside, with the voices on a podcast link.

Start collecting, free See it working

Gathering is free. You won't need a card.

Hear it
Their voice plays from the page.
Read it
Every message is written out on its page.
Hold it
We deliver the printed book to your door.

The world gets better when people hear the good things we say about them.

We are enabling over 1 million people to say it. Share the stories, love and gratitude. Your voice is what makes the world's greatest gift.

Start collecting, free

Watch it

Here's how Grandad's book for the care home was made.

9:41
A green linen Chorus book with For Grandad on the cover, beside a pair of glasses
How it works

Bring everyone's stories together with one link!

Start the book

Tell us who it's for

Put in their name, then send the link to the people they ask after: the grandchildren, their brothers and sisters, the neighbours.

Share one link

Everyone adds their story

Friends and family can capture a memory by voice, video, writing or photos, wherever they are in the world. It's easy on any phone and nobody needs an account!

We put it together

Hear it, read it, hold it

We write out every voice note and gather it all into a podcast you can play and a beautiful book you can hold.

The three questions in the book

  1. What's your news this week?
  2. What's a day with them you still talk about?
  3. What would you like to say to them?
Life in the home

The family's voices are there on the days nobody can visit.

The staff can put it on in the day room.

1

From Sydney to Leitrim

The grandson in Sydney and the sister who doesn't drive any more record from home. Their message is in the book the day they make it.

2

Photos from home

Send a picture of the dog asleep on his chair with your message.

3

Something to talk about on a visit

A visitor can open the printed book at any page, read it out to them and ask who said what.

What people say

What people say in a book for someone in a care home

Say who you are first, then give the news you'd bring in on a visit.

"Hi Grandad, it's Timmy. I got picked for the under tens and I'm in goal. Mam says you played in goal for Listowel. What did you do when someone took a penalty?"
TTimmyhis grandson, aged nine
"Mick, it's Dinny next door. I've the hedge cut, but it's not as straight as you'd have it. The robin's still coming to your feeder and I'm keeping it full."
DDinnyhis neighbour of forty years
"It's Statia. I was thinking about the summer at Auntie Peg's in Bundoran when you lost your shoe off the pier and walked home in one. I'll ring you Sunday after Mass."
SStatiahis sister
"Dad, it's Raymond. The lads at work were asking for you again. Ger is retiring at Christmas and he wants you at the do if the home will let you out for the evening."
RRaymondhis son
When to start

Add to it for months

New messages go in whenever someone records one. If you'd like the printed book on the ward for a birthday, order it three weeks ahead. The podcast link and the book online are ready the day you order.

In their words
A Christmas gift
We gave a book of stories about Mam to her for Christmas and she said it was the best gift she had received. There were some stories she had never heard! She felt really surrounded by love.
K
Kathleen's family
gave her the book at Christmas
What it costs

Gathering the voices is free. You only pay when the book is ready.

The gathering
Free
Send one link and collect the voices.
  • Every voice and every photo
  • Download every recording
  • Start as many books as you like
Start free
The voices
$45
Voice editing, and a personal podcast link.
  • Each recording tidied as it comes in
  • The original kept exactly as it was made
  • One link that plays every voice straight through
Choose the voices
The book
$99
Everything in the voices, plus the finished book to read online.
  • The finished book laid out to read online
  • Every message playable from its page
  • Every message written out beside its voice
Choose the book
The keepsake
$115
The book, printed and posted to you.
  • One printed hardcover copy
  • Posted to you
  • Everything in the book option
Choose the keepsake

Want to write your own questions? Start a blank book

Questions people ask

What is a good gift for someone in a nursing home?

Check with the staff what's allowed in the room. A book needs no label for the laundry and fits on one shelf.

Can care home staff play it for them?

Yes. Give the link to the nurse in charge or the activities coordinator. It opens in a browser with no app and no login.

How much does it cost to collect messages?

Nothing. They can each record a message on their own phone, and it doesn't cost anything to collect them. You only pay if you want the voices edited, the book laid out or a printed copy.

Can family abroad record?

Yes. They can record from anywhere in the world with the link. We post the printed book to Ireland, the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, every EU country, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland.

Can older relatives who don't use smartphones take part?

Yes. A grandchild can open the link on their phone and hold it while Granny's sister talks. Anyone can write a message instead.

Can everyone chip in?

Yes, if you turn chip-in on. Everyone who records can put money towards the book and saves their card. Their cards are charged when you go to pay, and it comes off what you pay. If you don’t finish paying, their money goes back within a week.

More books like this

Someone with dementia Thanking nurses From the grandchildren A 90th birthday Grandparents Christmas

Who would you like them to hear from?

Start the book now and invite people whenever you're ready.

Start collecting, free
Start collecting, free