House of Memories Cymru Relaunches App to Support Dementia Care Across Wales
The My House of Memories app is being relaunched by House of Memories Cymru to reach more individuals living with dementia throughout Wales, including in communities where stories are often overlooked. Developed by House of Memories, which is part of National Museums Liverpool's award-winning dementia programme, the app features museum objects from around the world that serve as prompts to facilitate meaningful conversations with those affected by dementia.
Additionally, the app functions as a tool for users to create their own memory tree, box, or timeline. Building on the programme's initial launch at the Senedd in 2023, House of Memories Cymru supports people living with dementia, along with their families and carers, through a combination of workshops, training sessions, and digital resources aimed at fostering connection and dialogue.
Expanding Community-Led Content for 2026
For 2026, the House of Memories Cymru section within the app is expanding significantly. This growth includes community-led themes developed in collaboration with local museums and community groups, with dedicated sections reflecting Global Majority and other underrepresented communities in Wales. Hundreds of memory prompts have been created, utilising images, audio, and video to evoke everyday life and shared heritage.
These diverse themes emerged from close partnerships between community groups and their local museums. The project involves nine museum and heritage partners across Wales, such as Conwy Culture Centre, Museum of Cardiff, Swansea Museum Services, Museum Wales, Cyfarthfa Castle Museum and Art Gallery, Llandudno Museum, Narberth Museum, and Storiel Museum.
These museums have engaged with their local neighbourhoods to include community members, diversify the stories museums tell, support the maintenance of museum items, and promote cultures of the global majority both in physical venues and virtually through the app.
Highlighting Key Objects and Stories
A standout object featured in the relaunch is a golden sari from Conwy Culture Centre, which highlights the local Indian community and the role fashion plays in cultural identity. In collaboration with community members, the museum explored the sari's style in detail, including the meaning of its distinctive mango-shaped motif. The sari is now displayed in the app alongside personal items shared by the community, such as a handmade bag created by a community member using fabric from their own sari.
Another notable item is the Dandy from Narberth Museum. This childhood object holds hidden meanings for community volunteer Phil, who discusses in recorded audio within the app his memories of living in a home for people who needed shelter. Phil explains how this object would have been used by families who found a home within his house and within Wales.
Voices from the Programme
Lizzie Ward, programme manager at House of Memories, National Museums Liverpool, commented: "Through the new app additions within House of Memories Cymru, we have added relevant material reflecting the Global Majority and other underrepresented communities in Wales, to allow more people to connect through stories that mean something to them.
We have already added some amazing stories from within the LGBTQ+ community through our work with museums across Wales and England, so now we're excited to highlight objects from even more communities in Wales that have been collected by the people who have lived those memories themselves. We hope these new additions to the app will continue making an impact, through generating conversation and making genuine conversations and connections between people living with dementia and their loved ones."
Rachel Evans, Museum Development Officer at Conwy Culture Centre, added: "Conwy Culture Centre is really happy to have contributed museum items and stories to the House of Memories Cymru project to support people living with dementia and represent a full picture of society. We hope the inclusive Welsh stories will spark memories and happy discussions with the app's users."
The relaunch aims to enhance accessibility and engagement, providing a valuable resource for dementia care across diverse communities in Wales.
