Of the many forms home care can take, treating and nurturing memories is not only one of the most varied but also one of the most vital.
Memories are so powerful that these misty watercolour-scattered pictures of the past light up the corners of our mind so vividly that passions from decades ago reignite and a powerful connection forms between the past, the present and the future.
This is the methodology behind reminiscence therapy, both as a way to provide wonderful moments of comfort and connection between generations or between a carer, your loved one and their family, but can also keep the brain engaged and focused.
How does reminiscence therapy work? Why is it a vital part of home care? How does it bring families together? And can it help people diagnosed with dementia?
What Is Reminiscence Therapy?
There is a wide range of treatments under the reminiscence theory umbrella, but what connects every type of reminiscence therapy session is linking your loved one to their memories and finding connection through these moments that have lingered throughout the ages.
It can be as simple as talking about the past, asking about moments in your loved one’s life that mattered to them, listening to their favourite music that evokes a particular era of their life, or even cooking a favourite childhood meal.
What pushes this beyond nostalgia or enjoying familiar pleasures is found in the questions asked about them; not only do we connect closer to our loved ones and learn about aspects of them we never knew before
Because old memories are so powerful, they can unlock deep dormant parts of the mind and allow for active and engaged memories. Even beyond this, memories are often comforting and connecting over them can help reduce depression, anxiety and low mood.
There are a lot of different approaches, both informal and more therapeutically structured, but there are typically three main types of reminiscence therapy that are used by psychologists in particular situations.
General Reminiscence Therapy
This is any type of reminiscence therapy that is based around remembering the past to provide pleasant memories, bring people closer together and relieve anxiety.
It can be unstructured, where a carer or a family member spends an hour or two chatting about the past, or it can be a more structured guided conversation, typically involving mental aids, activities and a “memory box” where anything that provides a positive memory is stored.
Reminiscence is often a major part of care, but can be particularly important for loved ones with dementia, anxiety or depression.
Integrative Reminiscence Therapy
Integrative therapy focuses on reconciliation, on redefining the events in our lives that we do not look back on fondly, on accepting the events in our life that did not go our way, and linking our memories with our lives as they stand now.
An integrative approach is generally focused on reducing depression and providing a more realistic and balanced view of who we are and how we have navigated life.
As we get older, our choices weigh more heavily on us, as there is an awareness that there are fewer chances to make them right, if any at all.
Integrative therapy is about taking the rough with the smooth, looking fondly at the good parts of your loved one’s life and putting them in context with the moments that they might be struggling with.
Unlike other forms of reminiscence therapy, which focus on stimulating the mind and generally reminding people of happier times, integrative therapy is about building self-esteem and a realistic self-image.
Instrumental Reminiscence Therapy
Instrumental reminiscence is focused on remembering and recalling solutions rather than more general pleasant memories.
In particular, it often involves focusing on coping mechanisms, strategies, activities that help in hard times and remembering how difficult tasks were solved in the past. These strategies and mindsets are then translated into finding solutions in the present.
This can be particularly helpful for people who, due to illness or injury, are no longer capable of doing jobs or activities that they used to take pride in doing, as it can help bring back some feelings of power and control, and allow someone to set new goals for themself.
Why Is Reminiscence Therapy Important In Home Care?
Reminiscence therapy is versatile and can be done basically anywhere you can inspire memories; it can be done in a group in a care home, it can be done at home with a box of photographs, it can even be done on a park bench if the location inspires strong memories.
At home, however, reminiscence therapy can be a valuable lifeline, and a carer sharing memories with a cup of tea or a favourite meal can have a tremendous impact on a loved one’s self-esteem.
A carer has greater access at home to keepsakes, mementoes and other items to prompt memories, such as:
- Old photographs, especially those of family, childhood, friends, work or favourite holidays
- Music, especially music heard during their teenage years, as studies suggest that your favourite song was made when you were between the ages of 12 and 17
- Familiar mementoes, such as books, old utensils that have been in the kitchen for decades, tools from an old job, childhood hobbies, board games or anything similar
- Newspapers from their childhood, old magazines and films they watched in the cinema at the time
- Favourite childhood and other nostalgic foods
- Old clothes and textiles
It can create not only a happy, relaxing session in its own right, but it can help a carer understand your loved one better and provide comfort and even therapy in the right situation.
Can Reminiscence Therapy Help People With Dementia?
Reminiscence therapy is most commonly associated with dementia conditions such as Alzheimer’s, as it can help to stimulate the mind and provide reassurance that even though they may struggle with their memory, they are still able to recall important information and deep-rooted memories.
The principle behind its assistance is the discovery in the 1960s that long-term memory is often more consistent than recent memories.
For example, even if your loved one struggles to remember where they have put their keys or when the living room was rearranged, they will still remember their wedding.
By keeping the mind consistently stimulated and engaged using these preserved memories, family connections can be kept, and the progression of dementia can be slowed.
