Dementia has many symptoms such as loss of memory and communication difficulties. While we know there is currently no cure, there is positive evidence that when Caregivers incorporate activities such as Reminiscence Therapy into their support and care, they provide relief and joy to Elders living with a dementia.
One Reminiscence Therapy activity is to create a ‘This Is Your Life’ book. The book is a visual diary which chronologically documents an Elder’s meaningful life moments, similar to a family photo album. This book can include photos, letters, postcards and certificates. Reminiscence therapy helps facilitate connection and communication between a Caregiver and Elder, as well as creating a connection between the present and the past.
As our Caregivers mainly provide in home care, they are fortunate to be able to draw on items that are found on their mantel piece, bookshelf or dresser. However, when they are visiting a client in a Nursing Home these personal items are not readily on display so a ‘This is your Life’ book is very helpful.
To create a ‘This Is Your Life’* book and other memorabilia for your Elder, Loved One or client:
Make a chronological history of the person with dementia to help with reminiscence and to provide information for others who may interact with them.
A large photo album with plastic protective sheets over each page will last well. Each photo needs to be clearly labelled with people’s names, place or event so the person diagnosed with a dementia can read them. This avoids putting the person with dementia on the spot with questions such as “Who is that?”.
It is best to limit the information on each page to one topic and to have a maximum of two or three items on each page.
The following list may help in getting a book started:
Do you use reminiscence therapy when supporting and enabling Elders?
Can you share a time reminiscence therapy worked really well for you and your client (no names) or your parent in the comments below.
Source: Information on ‘This Is Your Life’ book sourced from: Alzheimer’s Australia
When I first met this gentleman (widower) from Dee Why I learned very quickly he was a proud man. Proud of his heritage, family and his life. He would show me photographs of days gone by, recalling events…be they happy or sad and we would go in search of many too. It became apparent to me how much time he spent looking through his many albums so I stopped by a $2 shop and bought a big whiteboard and took it to his place. Over the next month he enjoyed, WE enjoyed sitting on the floor, at the table, on the lounge going through photographs scattered from here to there with he choosing which photographs he wanted to put on the board. It’s now on a wall in prime position. He loves it.
Tammy, what a special caregiver you are. Thank you for sharing your experience using reminiscence therapy with your proud Elder. That was very kind and proactive of you to buy the whiteboard, you enabled such a joyful activity for that gentleman. That’s a perfect example of Joyful Living. Well done and thank you. You are a special lady.
Client was born and raised on a farm in the country.
I thought she would like me to read her “Countrylife” magazine which was in the nursing home.
Level of dementia – early/mid.
First story was about a particular breed of cows found only in Scotland.
This lead to lots of stories of her childhood, helping Mum make ginger beer, helping Dad plant potatoes with a special fork, the family dog, life in the country in general, going to the country dance etc.
I knew this client would enjoy reminiscing and it enabled her to enjoy family life again.
Angela thanks for sharing your experience with reminiscence therapy. We all enjoy talking about happy past times, it’s like reliving those times…you can feel a warm glow in your body. That’s a great example and you are a very joyful carer. I enjoy talking to you and I can understand why Elders would enjoy their times with you. Thank you for the amazing care and enabling support you give our elders.
I had a client with late stage dementia who had difficulty with expressing herself in words,. I found an old photograph tucked away behind some others on the sideboard and when I showed it to her, she grinned from ear to ear and pointed saying “that’ s the thingy! that was it!” with some questions requiring Yes/No answers, I ascertained her story eventually – it was a photograph of herself with two other ladies who were President (herself) Vice President and Treasurer of the Bowling club where she played, and that was the year they won the regional pennant. she was very proud of her participation, and slowly she told of her love of bowls and the excitement surrounding that year. whenever i showed he that photo afterwards, she grinned from ear to ear and said “you know!”, pointing to the ladies in the picture. she had great joy from it and it was useful on her not so good days.
Thanks for sharing your story Robin. You are amazing the way you were able to draw the facts out of your client. How wonderful that she could remember and re-live that happy winning day, time and time again. And interesting that she said “you know” indicating she remembered that you knew the story! You are a kind and special caring lady, enjoy your weekend.
Reminiscence therapy should not be confined to dementia clients alone as all clients can benefit.
My client was in palliative care with MS, I used to take photos of him and send them to his brother (with his permission), he loved this, through this I discovered his love o