For people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, personal identity can appear to diminish as cognitive abilities decline. As a person begins to lose touch with current events however, they may hold on to cherished memories from their past.
What is Reminiscence Therapy?
Reminiscence Therapy is a treatment that uses all of the senses; sight, sound, touch, taste and smell, to help a person remember events, people and places from their past. As part of this therapy, carers may use objects in various activities to help a person with fond recollections of their personal history.
Components of reminiscence therapy can include simple activities, such as conversation, as well as more advanced clinical therapies to help bring past memories into present awareness. With minimal prompting — including simple questions, photos, songs or the beginning of a family story — a person may recall memories from childhood and young adulthood.
For many people, iconic films and actors can bring back pleasant memories. For others, a much loved piece of music can strike a chord in a person’s emotions and a familiar tune can tap into their memories. Pet therapy encourages a person with dementia to hold or stroke animals; a dog walk by the sea may evoke memories of a much-loved former pastime and encourage the therapeutic effects of physical activity.
Benefits for Individuals with Dementia
By sharing memories from the past through reminiscence therapy, people with dementia can develop more positive feelings whilst reducing stress and agitation. Storytelling about past events can help individuals with dementia feel less isolated and more connected to the present, experts say.
Reminiscing can help people feel more confident in their abilities and provide them with the opportunity to talk about what holds meaning for them. In addition, engaging in conversation about the past can provide relief from boredom and symptoms of depression, and it helps preserve family stories for later generations.
For further information about specialist dementia therapy at Avon Manor and Avon House, please follow the link to our webpage.