Transcript Reminiscence - Temple University Sites

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Reminiscence
“[A] selective process in which memories are evoked
and reconstructed…” (Dattilo, 2000)
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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 experiences
 Could be individual or group
 Could be written or recorded
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ReminiscenceLife experience recollection:
1.
2.
Simple/informative/story-telling
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Recollection of previous life experiences
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Remembered for pure pleasure of
experiencing occasions and to pass
information on to others
Life review
 Focused on analyzing, evaluating and coming
to terms with unpleasant or unhappy previous
life experiences
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Types of Reminiscence
Integrative
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)
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Types of Reminiscence
Narrative
Neutral
Reminiscence
effect on successful aging
Opportunities for individuals to state
autobiographical facts (place where
grew up, # of siblings..)
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Types of Reminiscence
Instrumental
 Associated
Reminiscence
with successful aging
 Helps individuals obtain subjective
perceptions of competence and continuity
through recollection of past plans,
attainment of goals, and successful
problem solving (accomplishments)
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Types of Reminiscence
 Escapist
Reminiscence
 Detrimental to successful aging
 When individuals tend to glorify the past
and belittle the present
 Obsessive
Reminiscence
 Can inhibit successful aging
 Statements of guilt, bitterness, and
despair regarding one’s past
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Overall Goal of Reminiscing..
To
provide cathartic (therapeutic)
opportunities for life review
Integrative (+)
Instrumental (+)
Transmissive (+)
Narrative (neutral)
Escapist (-)
Obsessive (-)
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Anticipated Outcome
Enhanced
self-worth
Reconciliation
Life
with the past
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
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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)
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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
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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)
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Example
(Dattilo, 2000, )
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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.”
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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.”
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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.”
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Reminiscence Groups
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Conversation Starters to get your reminiscing started –
remember to keep questions
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Short and open‐ended:
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What is your favorite holiday? What made it special? Did your family
have
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Any traditions?
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What was it like in when you were in school?
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What was your favorite job? Your first job?
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What were birthdays like in your family?
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What is one thing you would like your grandchildren to know about
you?
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Reminiscence Groups
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Who taught you how to drive?
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Have you ever had anything humorous happen on a date?
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Describe the house you grew up in.
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Tell us about your best childhood friend.
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What do you remember about your grandparents?
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What states, countries, and continents have you visited?
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If you could re‐live a day of your life again, which would it be? Why?
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What were your favorite foods as a child?
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What did you do for fun when you were a teenager?
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Can use sensory stim kits
Example Kits
Vacations
 Favorite games
 First playmate
 First pet
 School days
 Olympics
 Floods
 Engagements
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Example Kits
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Seasons
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Holidays
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Seasons
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Childhood
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Adolescence
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Music
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Dance
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Others
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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.
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Benefits of Reminiscence
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Decrease depression &
confusion
Decrease boredom
Increase well-being
Enjoyable
Develop friendships
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Engage in conversation
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Maintain family contacts
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Teach & inform
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Identify & solve problems
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Prepare for end of life
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Increase socialization
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Maintain cognitive functioning
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Reminiscence
Benefits
 Increase
self esteem as
review history of
competence
 Increase
life
satisfaction
 Reaffirm
identity
 Bring
sense of
pleasure from
sharing the past with
others
More Benefits
 Increase
socialization/Decrease
loneliness
 Stimulate
cognitive
processes
 Provide
feelings of
competence as person
relates LT memories
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Benefits of Reminiscence..
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Allow for expressing of feelings
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Come to terms with old disappointments
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Discover similarities with others
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Increase self awareness about leisure