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Reminiscence

“[A] selective process in which memories are evoked and reconstructed…” (Dattilo, 2000)

+Reminiscence- Definition…

Excursion into one’s memory of the past Weiss, 1989

Act of relating personally significant past experiences Koffman, 2000

Activity in which the leader assists and guides a person to recall previous life experiences and facilitates the affirmation of the value of these experiencesCould be individual or groupCould be written or recorded

+Reminiscence-

Life experience recollection:

1. Simple/informative/story-telling Recollection of previous life experiences Remembered for pure pleasure of

experiencing occasions and to pass information on to others

2. Life review Focused on analyzing, evaluating and

coming to terms with unpleasant or unhappy previous life experiences

+Types of ReminiscenceIntegrative Reminiscence

Associated with successful aging Helps individuals achieve a sense of self-

worth, coherence, and reconciliation with regard to one’s past (sense of peace)

Transmissive Reminiscence Associated with successful aging Helping individuals to pass along one’s

cultural heritage and personal legacy to others (storytelling, moral instruction)

+Types of Reminiscence

Narrative ReminiscenceNeutral effect on successful aging

Opportunities for individuals to state autobiographical facts (place where grew up, # of siblings..)

+Types of Reminiscence

Instrumental ReminiscenceAssociated with successful agingHelps individuals obtain subjective

perceptions of competence and continuity through recollection of past plans, attainment of goals, and successful problem solving (accomplishments)

+Types of Reminiscence

Escapist ReminiscenceDetrimental to successful agingWhen individuals tend to glorify the

past and belittle the present

Obsessive ReminiscenceCan inhibit successful agingStatements of guilt, bitterness, and

despair regarding one’s past

+Overall Goal of Reminiscing..

To provide cathartic (therapeutic) opportunities for life review

Integrative (+)Instrumental (+)Transmissive (+)Narrative (neutral)Escapist (-)Obsessive (-)

+Anticipated Outcome

Enhanced self-worth

Reconciliation with the past

Life journey is seen as a full circle

Increased subjective feelings of competency

Increased continuity of the self through passing on stories, morals, beliefs, heritage, ways of living, etc

+Program Structure

Group of 10-12 people or smaller, such as 5-6 people or 1:1

Quiet environment; may be held in “special” environments to help facilitate memories

Sessions are organized around a specific topic (e.g., school days), a topical area (e.g., historical event, holidays, seasons), or developmental stage (e.g., childhood, adolescence, young adulthood)

Use props to aid in memory recall (consider using sensory stimulation theme kits)

+Session Format RT welcomes everyone and greets everyone

individually

RT introduces the topic and explains the purpose of the session

RT facilitates a conversation about the topic and utilizes therapeutic communication techniques to encourage discussion (e.g., paraphrasing, probing, validating, etc). Keep the conversation balanced among all group members and remind members of the clock time as appropriate

RT closes the group with a summary, thanks everyone for participating, and shares plans for the next session

+Session Stages (Life Review) NOTE: Can rouse strong emotional memories, both negative and positive – may need to refer to Psychology

TOPICS: giving yourself a hair cut, attending class reunions, Christmas morning, when the circus came to town, “if I had my life to live over again,” how families expressed emotions

SESSION STAGES Recollection of the event (as person recalls it) Evaluation of the event (changes as new info becomes

available) Synthesis of the event (memory is re-organized and

self-perceptions are revised)

+Example (Dattilo, 2000, )

Recollection: “I remember one Christmas during the Great Depression when all I wanted was a store-bought doll. Mama kept saying money was too dear but I was stubborn. On Christmas morning I got the doll. A week later, I left it in the barn by accident and one of the dogs chewed on it. Mama cried when she saw it and I couldn’t understand why – after all, it was my doll.”

Evaluation: “It wasn’t until after Mama died that I found a letter she had written to my aunt that Christmas. It seems Mama had given a whole, handmade quilt for that doll. I know now why she cried but she never said a word.”

Synthesis: “That was typical of Mama – she kept everything to herself. She could never say, “I love you” but she tried to show it by giving me that doll.”

+Reminiscence Groups

Conversation Starters to get your reminiscing started – remember to keep questions

Short and open‐ended:

What is your favorite holiday? What made it special? Did your family have

Any traditions?

What was it like in when you were in school?

What was your favorite job? Your first job?

What were birthdays like in your family?

What is one thing you would like your grandchildren to know about you?

Who taught you how to drive?

Have you ever had anything humorous happen on a date?

Describe the house you grew up in.

Tell us about your best childhood friend.

What do you remember about your grandparents?

What states, countries, and continents have you visited?

What is your earliest childhood memory about snow?

If you could re‐live a day of your life again, which would it be? Why?

What were your favorite foods as a child?

What did you do for fun when you were a teenager?

+Reminiscence Groups

Who taught you how to drive?

Have you ever had anything humorous happen on a date?

Describe the house you grew up in.

Tell us about your best childhood friend.

What do you remember about your grandparents?

What states, countries, and continents have you visited?

If you could re‐live a day of your life again, which would it be? Why?

What were your favorite foods as a child?

What did you do for fun when you were a teenager?

+Can use sensory stim kits

Seasons

Holidays

Seasons

Childhood

Adolescence

Music

Dance

Others

Example Kits Example Kits

Vacations Favorite games First playmate First pet School days Olympics Floods Engagements

+Memory Boxes

Memory Boxes can help to stimulate the mind, triggering good emotions and improve quality of life. It helps bring people together and encourages conversation, reminiscence and discussion.

+Benefits of Reminiscence

Decrease depression & confusion

Decrease boredom

Increase well-being

Enjoyable

Develop friendships

Engage in conversation

Maintain family contacts

Teach & inform

Identify & solve problems

Prepare for end of life

Increase socialization

Maintain cognitive functioning

+Reminiscence

Increase self esteem as review history of competence

Increase life satisfaction

Reaffirm sense of identity

Bring pleasure from sharing the past with others

Benefits More Benefits

Increase socialization/Decrease loneliness

Stimulate cognitive processes

Provide feelings of competence as person relates LT memories

+Benefits of Reminiscence.. Allow for expressing of feelings

Come to terms with old disappointments

Discover similarities with others

Increase self awareness about leisure