What is reminiscence therapy for dementia?

 

Reminiscence generally means sharing past experiences, stories, and memories. Dementia is a condition characterized by loss of memory. Seniors diagnosed with dementia generally tend to become inferior to themselves and they often hesitate to speak out. For those seniors, reminiscence therapy is highly beneficial as it gives them hope and confidence to speak out. This reminiscence therapy gives them the self-confidence that makes them feel they are also capable of something other than nothing.

 

Reminiscence is often confused with the term remembrance. Reminiscence therapy is something like enquiring them if they remember this incident (or) remember this person. No, Reminiscence is sharing something they remember like their favorite food, favorite memory, etc.

 

What are the advantages and disadvantages of Reminiscence therapy?

 

As a coin has two sides - the head and the tail, everything has its advantages and disadvantages. let's see what are the advantages and disadvantages of reminiscence therapy for dementia,

 

Advantages:

 

Reminiscence therapy brings out the dusted memories to life. It would give them a feeling that they are still capable of. At the time of hardships, when we look back on how strong we were will give us new energy and will power to face the issues in front of us. Having been diagnosed with dementia would have been a difficult part for them to accept. but reminiscence on the older memories might help them battle against the odds.

 

Reminiscence therapy can pave a way for a healthy heart. Recent studies reveal that seniors who undergo reminiscence therapy have lower levels of blood pressure. As reminiscence therapy clears all that's in your heart, things that are troubling, things that are haunting as people start sharing they feel a lot more relieved and free. It also lowers the stress levels of individuals as the previous experiences make them realize how strong and confident they were.

 

Reminiscence therapy makes seniors more socially interactive and involved. Sharing their memories gives them the confidence to speak out.

 

Dis-advantages:

 

We might not expect that everybody's life would be a bed of roses. Talking about their memories can also stir up their worst days that might worsen the condition. Looking back on the darker days of their life might make them mentally unstable.

 

How to make reminiscence therapy beneficial:

 

The ultimate goal of reminiscence therapy is to make the seniors feel more confident about their life. Here are a few tips on how to make reminiscence therapy beneficial,

1 . Stop Questioning - Start Listening:

 

• While seniors are sharing their memory, do not interrupt in the middle make - let them go with the flow. Interrupting in the middle might break their flow that makes it hard to continue further-on. 
• Questioning on an event (or) a specific incident can sometimes turn-up worse. As they might have forgotten that specific part which might make them feel bad.
• Listening makes them feel wanted and makes them less worried.

 

2 . Music brings back the lost emotions:

 

• Every person will have a favorite song that might have ruled their playlist. Music plays an important role in bringing back the lost emotions. 
• Music is therapeutic as it soothes their soul and gives them peace of mind. Music will help them rewind to their good old days and bring them back to life.

 

3 . Looking at the old photos: 

 

• Photos can bring back their lost smile, remind them of their favorites.
• Helps them recall their friends and family.
• Photos bring back the long lost treasures. It can make them relive those happy moments in just a glance.

 

Conditions like Dementia, Alzheimer's can never stop you unless you start working to overcome them. Hope this valuable information will be useful to you. Please let us know if you find it useful.

 

Author: Team 60Plus India

 

Keywords: Reminiscence therapy , Reminiscence , Dementia , Memories , seniors , confidence , hope.

 

Tags : #reminiscecetherapy #reminiscence #seniorcitizens #memory #seniors #elders #memoryloss #hope #selfconfidence #condidence #dementia #alzheimer