Within our care homes, we try to use a range of ways to make our residents comfortable and support their mental wellness. One of these methods, particularly in our elderly care facilities and those with dementia-related conditions is the use of reminiscence therapy. Reminiscence therapy is a fantastic way to encourage conversation and confidence with those suffering from Alzheimers, Dementia and similar conditions but what is reminiscence therapy all about? We discuss what it is, how it works and why it is an important part of our elderly care homes.

 

What is Reminiscence Therapy?

Reminiscence therapy is when past events are recalled in conversation with someone suffering from dementia-related illness. Whilst those with Alzheimer's or Dementia often struggle to recall recent events, events can often be recalled from a long time ago, even when their short-term memory is fading.

 

How Does Reminiscence Therapy Work? 

In general, most people will remember the most about the time they were between 10 and 30 years old with the most clear memories often of being in their late teens or early twenties. This is frequently called a ‘reminiscence bump’. By focussing on these key areas of those living with Dementia-related conditions, we can help them recall memories that will be more familiar to them.

Often, during reminiscence therapy for dementia in particular, a multi-sensory device will be used to trigger memories and start a conversation. This could be something such as an old song or a film, a picture of the Queen’s coronation or an old-fashioned kettle. Items such as these will often trigger memories of when the individual was younger, their favourite things to do or the type of musicians they used to listen to. Doing this is often a very positive experience and can help improve the mood of the person recalling the memories, particularly if they have been having a bad day.

 

How Can Reminiscence Therapy Help Those With Dementia?

Reminiscence therapy is a great way to build the confidence of those suffering from dementia-related conditions as it allows them to have more control over the conversation as the topic will be more familiar to them. Some studies have suggested that stimulating the long-term memory can actually help with shorter-term memories and can help with the engagement and increase in the self-worth of individuals as well as stimulating wider conversations in care homes which helps with social interactions. Group reminiscence therapy can be a great way for individuals with dementia or dementia-related conditions to find common ground in things that they remember from their younger days.

 

How Can I Practice Reminiscence Therapy at Home?

Reminiscence therapy is a great way to connect with those with dementia-related conditions, even if they are not living in a care home. Whilst there is training available for reminiscence therapy, there are some simple ways to get started with your loved one without any formal training. Some reminiscence activities for those with dementia could involve some of the previous examples of watching an old favourite film or looking through an old photo album to spark a conversation.

A good activity for reminiscence therapy for older adults is the creation of a ‘memory box’. In order to do this, simply create a box, this could be covered in some old wallpaper from their home or perhaps a fabric they love, some people also choose to cover their memory box in a collage of old photographs but this can be completely personal to you and the person you are creating the memory box for. Once you have created your reminiscence box, fill it with items that mean a lot.

Some reminiscence therapy examples for boxes include things such as pictures from important times in their life, letters from loved ones or items from your loved one’s career. If you are struggling to think of items to help with your reminiscence therapy box, try to work out when their ‘reminiscence bump’ might have happened, when they would have been between 10 and 30 and do some research into some of the popular things at that time. Antique shops could help spark some ideas and creating a scrapbook full of their memories is also a popular idea and something that can be a real source of comfort for those who are experiencing a dementia-related condition.

 

Specialist Care for Those With Dementia-Related Conditions

At Select Healthcare, we provide a range of services for those with dementia-related conditions in our specialist care homes. Our dedicated team of care staff are always looking for ways to enrich the lives of our residents and reminiscence therapy is just one of the many ways we do this.

If you are looking for more information on our care facilities, or have any other questions about our elderly care facilities, get in touch with the team online or by calling 01384 217900 now to find out more.

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