Key points

Reminiscence Therapy

Reminiscence therapy has been a popular form of cognitive stimulation therapy since the 1980s in Britain. Both the person with dementia and caregivers can benefit from encouraging the person to talk about the past with a positive perspective.

Benefits for the person:

Benefits for caregivers:

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StepsExpand
  • Introduce what was done in the last session.
  • Introduce the topic of the current session by showing photos, pictures, or related materials.
  • Discuss about the topic, such as who, what, when, where, how.
  • Summarize the session and praise the person for his or her participation.
  • Thank the person for his or her contribution.
TechniquesExpand

  1. Use open-ended questions to encourage the person to speak if he or she has early-stage dementia (use yes or no questions only if the person cannot understand).

    Open-ended questions Close-ended questions
    What games do you play when you were a kid? Did you play marbles/jump rope when you were a kid?
    How did you meet Mum/Dad/your spouse? Did you choose to marry Mum/Dad/your spouse or was it an arranged marriage?
    How do you play with these marbles? Is this a marble?
  2. Use open questions to encourage the person to provide details.
    • Who: Who did the person usually play with?
    • When: When did the person usually play that game?
    • Why: Why did the parents not want them to play that game?
    • Where: Where did the person usually play that game?
    • What: What are the names of the materials used?
    • How: How did the person play the game?

  3. Provide photographs or the actual materials to help the person remember.

    help the person remember

  4. Retain a positive attitude.
    ✔
    • That must be difficult. You did try hard.
    • You must have regretted it all these years. What about things that you are proud of?
    • That is an important memory. Can you tell me more about what happened next?
    ✘
    • You don't have to feel sad.
    • That happened a long time ago. You don't have to feel sad now.
    • You have repeated that many times. I am asking you what happened next!
  5. Respect the person and validate his or her feelings. Do not judge the person or force him or her to speak.
    • It is all right for you to feel angry/hurt/sad. But I can remember so many happy moments you had, such as...
    • I do not want to push you; just tell me what you want to say, and let me know if you feel tired.
  6. Be careful of the emotional state of the person. Avoid making the person too aroused or depressed.
  7. Give a brief summary or review at the end and thank the person.
    • That was interesting! Tell me more next time!
    • I learned a lot. Thank you so much!
    • Thank you for teaching me how to play marbles. Let's talk about other games next time.
Topics for reminiscenceExpand

  1. Personal history

    • Childhood: Home, family, friends, appearance, hobbies, interests
    • Schooldays: Textbooks, teachers, schoolmates, school building
    • Work life: Content, environment, colleagues
    • Marriage: How they met, how they dated, how they married, wedding ceremony
    • Family life: When children were born, naming of children, child raising
    • Retirement: Friends, places visited, leisure

  2. Daily themes

    • Daily life: Clothes, food, drinks, places to go
    • Festivals: Chinese New Year, Easter, Halloween, Christmas
    • Entertainment: Games, artists, songs, films
    • Hobbies: Sports, interests
Summary