Reminiscence work with older people: the development of a historical reminiscence tool

Reminiscence in the Care of People with Mild Dementia: A Concept Analysis

AIM

To clarify the concept of reminiscence in the care of people with mild dementia, highlight its uses as a nursing intervention in dementia care, and propose an operational definition of the concept.

BACKGROUND

Reminiscence is one of the leading nonpharmacological interventions in dementia care. The existing literature lacks a unified definition of reminiscence as it applies to the care of patients with mild dementia and a precise understanding of the concept's applications in nursing care.

DATA SOURCES

We derived data from literature searches in CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases.

DESIGN

Concept Analysis.

REVIEW METHODS

The review method used was the Walker and Avant's (2019) eight-step method.

RESULTS

Identification of the key attributes, antecedents, consequences, and empirical referents of the concept resulted in an operational definition of the concept. The proposed operational definition identifies reminiscence in the care of patients with mild dementia as a cognitive, functional process of recalling and reconstructing distant memories using memory stimuli through mutual interaction with a trained facilitator.

CONCLUSION

Clarifying the concept will add validity to the current and future literature, help to develop new research instruments that accurately measure this concept, and function as a framework for holistic nursing interventions.

A Narrative Care approach for persons living with dementia in institutional care settings

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

We will provide insights in the theoretical background and key concepts of a Narrative Care approach, such as narrative cultures, narrative curiosity, narrative co-composition and narrative reflective practice.

BACKGROUND

Care understood as narrative practice underscores the importance of experiences and how these shape identities. Important to the quality of care in institutional care settings is the ability of care providers to cope with complexities and uncertainties in older adults' stories, which can be realised by attending to ways that foster and co-compose evolving and forward-looking narratives. Recognising these ongoing co-compositions means that persons living in institutional care settings and care providers live, tell, retell and relive their experiences. A change in the current institutional culture is necessary to implement care as narrative practice. To support such a change, approaches are needed that foster a focus on experiences and relationships and make relational ethics central to care.

METHODS

The proposed Narrative Care approach is the result of an iterative development process involving a literature review, interviews with, and observations of, care providers, dialogues with an advisory committee, and consultation with experts.

MAIN CONTRIBUTIONS

The proposed Narrative Care approach aims to help care providers (a) to recognise the importance of curiosity in a person's verbal and embodied narratives-especially for those living with dementia; (b) to take note of individual experiences in all of their complexity and uncertainty; (c) to respect these narratives; (d) to open up spaces to co-compose new narratives; and (e) to allow care providers to engage in narrative reflective practices that shape who they are and are becoming.

CONCLUSION

The introduced approach responds to the need of implementing strategies to think and work narratively in institutional care settings.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Narrative Care has the potential to reshape task-oriented, technical notions of care. Concepts such as embodied narratives, relational ethics, narrative co-composition and narrative reflective practice must be integrated in the education of all care providers.

Life-story work in long-term care facilities for older people: An integrative review

AIM

To systematically review the literature regarding the experience of older people, families and staff using life-story work in residential care facilities for older people.

BACKGROUND

Life-story work has been promoted as an approach to enhance care provided and involves collecting memories and moments that are important to the person assisting them to regain their sense of self.

DESIGN

An integrative review utilising the PRISMA reporting guidelines where seven databases, Scopus, EMBASE, CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsychInfo, PsychARTICLES, and Cochrane, were searched within the timeframe; 1 January 2006 to 14 March 2016. Data were reviewed using Whittemore and Knalf's (Journal of Advanced Nursing, 2005, 52:546) methodological approach for integrative reviews. Analysis was conducted utilising Braun and Clarke's (Qualitative Research in Psychology, 2006, 3:77) six phases to identify, analyse and record themes within the data.

RESULTS

Thirteen articles were reviewed, and the review found that life-story work has been introduced using a range of different approaches, with no common approach. Thematic analysis identified two: maintaining identity and building and maintaining relationships.

CONCLUSION

The review extends the current evidence on the experience of using life-story work in long-term aged care facilities for older people. Life-story work has the potential to enhance person-centred care in long-term care. However, improving the process of implementation of life-story work will require education, time and resources and a commitment from service providers and managers.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Staff who undertake life-story work with residents need to be equipped with the skills to recognise and manage the challenges and issues that may potentially arise. Further research into the successful implementation of life-story work and how it can be resourced is required.