The effects of reminiscence therapy on depressive symptoms of Chinese elderly: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial

Reminiscence and Digital Storytelling to Improve the Social and Emotional Well-Being of Older Adults With Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study Design and a Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Increasing attention is being given to the growing concerns about social isolation, loneliness, and compromised emotional well-being experienced by young adults and older individuals affected by Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD). Studies suggest that reminiscence strategies combined with an intergenerational approach may yield significant social and mental health benefits for participants. Experts also recommended the production of a digital life story book as part of reminiscence. Reminiscence is typically implemented by trained professionals (eg, social workers and nurses); however, there has been growing interest in using trained volunteers owing to staffing shortages and the costs associated with reminiscence programs.

OBJECTIVE

The proposed study will develop and test how reminiscence offered by trained young adult volunteers using a digital storytelling platform may help older adults with ADRD to improve their social and emotional well-being.

METHODS

The proposed project will conduct a randomized controlled trial to assess the effects of the intervention. The older and young adult participants will be randomly assigned to the intervention (reminiscence based) or control groups and then be randomly matched within each group. Data will be collected at baseline before the intervention, in the middle of the intervention, at end of the intervention, and at 3 months after the intervention. An explanatory sequential mixed methods design will be used to take advantage of the strengths of both quantitative and qualitative methods. The quantitative data from surveys will be entered into SPSS and analyzed using covariate-adjusted linear mixed models for repeated measures to compare the intervention and control groups over time on the major outcomes of participants. Conventional content analysis of qualitative interviews will be conducted using data analysis software.

RESULTS

The project was modified to a telephone-based intervention owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Data collection started in 2020 and ended in 2022. In total, 103 dyads were matched at the beginning of the intervention. Of the 103 dyads, 90 (87.4%) dyads completed the midtest survey and 64 (62.1%) dyads completed the whole intervention and the posttest survey. Although we are still cleaning and finalizing data analyses, the preliminary results from both quantitative and qualitative data showed promising results of this intergenerational reminiscence approach that benefits both the older adults who have cognitive impairments and the young adult participants.

CONCLUSIONS

Intergenerational reminiscence provided by young adult college student offers promising benefits for both the younger and older generations. Future studies may consider scaling up this pilot into a trackable, replicable model that includes more participants with diverse background (eg, public vs private college students and older adults from other agencies) to test the effectiveness of this intervention for older adults with ADRD.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05984732; https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05984732.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/49752.

Learning about Grandparents' Past Life: Reflections of Grandchildren in an Intergenerational Reminiscence Project for Asian American Families

Immigration, aging, and dementia often result in a triple jeopardy for Asian American older adults. To improve the well-being of Asian American older adults as well as generational bonding, an Intergenerational Grandparent-Grandchild Reminiscence Program was developed. This paper qualitatively reports on the weekly reflections from the grandchild participants of this program. Older grandparents received six sessions of life-review discussion with their grandchildren remotely or in person for approximately 1 h each week for 6 weeks. Each grandchild (n = 12) provided a written reflection each week after talking with their grandparent. The qualitative data were organized and analyzed using the five phases of the rigorous and accelerated data reduction (RADaR) technique. The results show three categories of themes, as follows: Category 1-Positive experience: more connection with the grandparent; learning more about the grandparent's past life experience; and more engagement; Category 2-Challenging experience: over-explaining things; language or vocabulary barriers; and overly-broad topics; Category 3-Strategy to lead the discussion: using guiding questions in the manual; using translators; spending time together; and taking notes. The results show that the intergenerational reminiscence program is promising for bonding and connection in the grandparent-grandchild relationship. Participants also gained knowledge and experienced challenges when talking with their grandparents during the program.

Intergenerational Reminiscence Approach in Improving Emotional Well-Being of Older Asian Americans in Early-Stage Dementia Using Virtual Reality: Protocol for an Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Study

BACKGROUND

After a dementia diagnosis, Asian Americans experience anxiety, feelings of shame, and other negative effects. Emotional well-being is not only an important aspect of mental health, but also a quality of resilience that helps people bounce back faster from difficulties. However, few studies have addressed issues in developing, implementing, and testing intervention strategies to promote emotional well-being among older adults. Intergenerational solidarity between grandparents and grandchildren has been emphasized in Asian families and is beneficial for the health of persons with dementia. Reminiscence and life review have been identified as potentially effective intervention strategies for helping depression and emotional well-being for older adults.

OBJECTIVE

This proposed study aims to develop and implement an intergenerational reminiscence approach and evaluate its potential feasibility and effectiveness in improving the emotional well-being of older Asian American adults who have a recent dementia diagnosis.

METHODS

An explanatory sequential mixed methods design will be used in which quantitative data will first be collected and analyzed to identify subsamples of participants who report the greatest and least change in emotional well-being; then, these subsamples will be interviewed to further understand why or why not this intervention works for them. Older adults will receive 6 sessions of life review with grandchildren in virtual reality (VR; 1-1.5 hours each week for 6 weeks), aided by pictures and virtually traveling to important places in their life using Google Earth to look around at those places and remember important times. Quantitative survey data will be collected pre- and postintervention and at a 3-month follow-up. Qualitative interviews with selected participants will also be integrated into the study design. The quantitative data from the surveys will be entered into SPSS (IBM Corp) and analyzed using descriptive analyses, Pearson chi-square tests, nonparametric Friedman tests, or nonparametric Wilcox signed-rank tests (2-tailed). The qualitative data will be transcribed by research assistants, coded by the investigators independently, and analyzed with guidance from content analysis software (Atlas.ti; Atlas.ti Scientific Software Development GmbH).

RESULTS

The project was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Data collection started in late 2021, and 26 participants were recruited as of December 2022. While we are still cleaning and analyzing the quantitative data, the qualitative interviews showed promising results of this intergenerational reminiscence approach in improving emotional well-being among older Asian American adults who have cognitive impairment.

CONCLUSIONS

Intergenerational reminiscence provided by grandchildren is promising in improving the emotional well-being of grandparents. VR technology is likely to be accepted by older adults. Future research may consider scaling up this pilot into a trackable, replicable model that includes more participants and develops a more rigorous study design with control groups to test the effectiveness of this intervention for older adults with dementia.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/48927.

Digital Intervention For The Management Of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive, multifactorial, chronic, neurodegenerative disease with high prevalence and limited therapeutic options, making it a global health crisis. Being the most common cause of dementia, AD erodes the cognitive, functional, and social abilities of the individual and causes escalating medical and psychosocial needs. As yet, this disorder has no cure and current treatment options are palliative in nature. There is an urgent need for novel therapy to address this pressing challenge. Digital therapeutics (Dtx) is one such novel therapy that is gaining popularity globally. Dtx provides evidence based therapeutic interventions driven by internet and software, employing tools such as mobile devices, computers, videogames, apps, sensors, virtual reality aiding in the prevention, management, and treatment of ailments like neurological abnormalities and chronic diseases. Dtx acts as a supportive tool for the optimization of patient care, individualized treatment and improved health outcomes. Dtx uses visual, sound and other non-invasive approaches for instance-consistent therapy, reminiscence therapy, computerised cognitive training, semantic and phonological assistance devices, wearables and computer-assisted rehabilitation environment to find applications in Alzheimer's disease for improving memory, cognition, functional abilities and managing motor symptom. A few of the Dtx-based tools employed in AD include "Memory Matters", "AlzSense", "Alzheimer Assistant", "smart robotic dog", "Immersive virtual reality (iVR)" and the most current gamma stimulation. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current trends in digital health in AD and explore the benefits, challenges, and impediments of using Dtx as an adjunctive therapy for the management of AD.

The effect of group reminiscence therapy on death anxiety and adaptation of the elderly to old age

AIM

In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of group reminiscence on death anxiety and adaptation of the elderly to old age.

METHODS

This is a clinical trial study. Using simple random sampling method, we divided 32 elderly people into the intervention (n = 16) and control (n = 16) groups. Reminiscence therapy was held in 12 sessions. The study instruments including demographic characteristics questionnaire, Mini Mental Status Examination, Templer Death Anxiety, and aging adjustment questionnaires were filled out by the samples in 3 steps before the intervention, after the last day of the intervention, and 30 days after the end of the interventional sessions.

RESULTS

In the intervention group, the mean score of death anxiety and adjustment to old age before the intervention showed a statistically significant difference with the post-intervention stages (P < 0.05); however, in the control group, the mean scores of death anxiety and adjustment to old age in the 3 steps were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Also, no statistically significant difference was found between the intervention and control groups before the intervention (P > 0.05), but there was a statistically significant relationship in the steps immediately after the last day of the intervention and 30 days after the end of the interventional sessions (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The findings of the present study indicate that reminiscence therapy is able to effectively reduce the anxiety of death in the elderly; also, reminiscence therapy can be used to improve the adaptation ability of the elderly to old age.

The Iranian Protocol of Group Reminiscence and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Institutionalized Older People

PURPOSE

Reminiscence has a positive role in improving memory performance. It may increase the attention of the older adults to themselves, helping them to cope with the crises and the process of aging. We aimed to investigate the impacts of memory recalling, sharing life experiences and stories confidently from the past on promoting numerous domains of quality of life (QoL), among institutionalized older people in the Ilam province of Iran.

METHODS

The study was carried out, using a quasi-experimental approach (a pre- and post-one group design). The statistical population consisted of all older people who were institutionalized in nursing homes. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, 43 potential participants were recruited, and the status of QoL was assessed, using the Iranian short-form health survey (SF-36) and face to face interviews. Then, eight sessions were designed and implemented. The participants expressed their memories such as bitter and sweet memories at various periods of life, and finally, the QoL of the participants was re-evaluated according to the same questionnaire, three months after the intervention.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference between the scores of pre- and post-intervention in most of the sub-scales of QoL, including physical functioning, role limitations due to physical health and emotional problems, emotional well-being, social functioning, and general health.

CONCLUSION

Reminiscence may, in certain circumstances, be an effective care option for people living in long-term care with the potential to impact positively on the QoL of residents.

Non-pharmacological depression therapies for older Chinese adults: A systematic review & meta-analysis

PURPOSE

To conduct a systematic review of randomized controlled trials to evaluate the evidence for the use of non-pharmacological depression therapies in older Chinese adults.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The population was individuals of Chinese extraction over the age of 60 who meet the criteria for depression. The review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA). Six healthcare databases were systematically searched for publications to the end date July 2018. Included study variables were extracted and methodological quality assessments were performed. Ten studies reported sufficient data for meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Fifteen experimental and quasi-experimental studies fulfilled the selection criteria (N = 904 participants). Twelve studies provided sufficient data to evaluate the therapies using Effect Size (ES) (Cohen'sd); ranged from low to high. In the Qigong studies ES varied d = 0.31-0.81, Reminiscence d = 0.20-2.37, and for single studies of Tai Chi d = 1.7 and for Life Story d = 1.46. From the meta-analyses, Qigong was the only treatment that had a significant effect on the severity of depression (Z = -4.47, p < 0.01) with acceptable statistical heterogeneity between studies (I² = 52 %).

CONCLUSION

Overall, there was a large methodological heterogeneity between studies attributed to differing treatments, duration and designs. Reminiscence and Life Story showed an overall effect from a range of measures, as did the exercise therapies Qigong and Tai Chi. Qigong was the only therapy having a significant effect on depression. This therapy may be useful to alleviate depression due to the group and social interaction.

Group reminiscence for hope and resilience in care-seekers who have attempted suicide

BACKGROUND

The rate of attempting suicide is growing due to the increasing social and economic problems and a variety of stresses taken by individuals in their lives. Helping people, boosting hope, and improving resilience to life hardships might be helpful in this area. This paper is an attempt to determine the effects of group reminiscence on hope and resilience in care-seekers who have attempted suicide.

METHOD

The study was carried out as a quasi-experimental interventional study. The participants were 57 care-seekers with a history of attempting suicide who met the inclusion criteria. The sampling was done through convenience sampling and the participants were grouped into control (n = 29) and experimental (n = 28) groups randomly. The experimental group received integrated reminiscence sessions (eight sessions; 60-90 min). Hope and resilience of the subjects were measured using Schneider's Hope Scale and Connor and Davidson's Resilience Scale. The scales were filled out by the subjects before, immediately after, and 4 weeks after the intervention.

RESULTS

The mean scores of hope in the experimental and control groups were 34.60 and 38.04, respectively, before the intervention. These figures immediately after the intervention were 44.07 and 35.96 in the experimental and control groups, respectively. 4 weeks after the intervention, the mean scores of hope in the experimental and control groups were 44.39 and 35.79, respectively, which is a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). In terms of resilience, the mean scores in the experimental and control groups before the intervention were 48.17 and 57.51, respectively; and immediately after the intervention, these figures were 67.71 and 52.75, respectively. 4 weeks of the intervention, the mean scores of resilience were 59.17 and 52.24, respectively, which is a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Group reminiscence has a positive effect on boosting hope and resilience in care-seekers who have attempted suicide.

The effect of reminiscence therapy on quality of life, attitudes to ageing, and depressive symptoms in institutionalized elderly adults with cognitive impairment: A quasi-experimental study

The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of group narrative reminiscence therapy on cognition, quality of life, attitudes towards ageing, and depressive symptoms in a group of older adults with cognitive impairment in institutional care. A quasi-experimental pretest/post-test control group design was employed. Interventions involving reminiscence therapy with a narrative approach were included in the care plan and implemented in groups of between five and ten respondents once a week for 8 weeks (total 59 participants). The members of the control group (n = 57) received standard care. A study questionnaire was designed to measure demographic characteristics, quality of life (WOHQOL-BREF, WHOQOL-OLD), depressive symptoms (GDS), cognition (MMSE), and attitudes towards ageing (AAQ). Reminiscence therapy positively affected older adults' quality of life (mostly the areas of mental health and social participation), and also their attitudes to ageing and old age. It reduced symptoms of depression, but had no discernible effect on cognitive function. Reminiscence therapy can positively affect selected aspects of quality of life, attitudes towards old age, and symptoms of depression in the elderly in long-term healthcare facilities. Group reminiscence therapy can be used as a nursing intervention.

Bringing Creative Writing Instruction into Reminiscence Group Treatment

OBJECTIVES

This article describes the program evaluation of a group intervention combining reminiscence with literary creative writing instruction.

METHOD

This 10-week, 1-hour group was completed seven times in an outpatient geriatric mental health clinic. Each session introduced a different reminiscence theme and creative writing practice. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed through group monitoring and qualitative feedback. Effectiveness was assessed with pre- and post-test depression screening (PHQ-9) and qualitative feedback.

RESULTS

A total of 34 veterans participated in the groups, with a mean group size of 4.86 (SD = .69). Participants were 85% male (n = 29) and 15% female (n = 5) with a mean age of 70.89 (SD = 8.30). To increase accessibility, several adaptations were made. There were statistically significant reductions in PHQ-9 depression scores (p = .005). Veterans reported qualitative improvements including increased motivation and self-expression.

CONCLUSIONS

This intervention was feasible and acceptable to the veterans being served. Randomized controlled research is needed to better understand efficacy.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Clinicians may consider ways to augment or adapt reminiscence interventions to meet the needs of their patient population. Clinicians may find it useful to integrate creative writing instruction into reminiscence interventions.

Verbal responses, depressive symptoms, reminiscence functions and cognitive emotion regulation in older women receiving individual reminiscence therapy

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To examine the effectiveness of individual reminiscence therapy in community-dwelling older women with depressive symptoms and to explore the characteristics of participants' verbalisation in the process.

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have found reminiscence was related to depression and anxiety. Although reminiscence therapy is widely used to reduce depression, little is known about how it works, and the content of verbalisations might provide one explanation.

DESIGN

The study employed a one-group pretest-post-test design.

METHODS

Twenty-seven participants underwent 6-week interventions of individual reminiscence therapy at home that were conducted by one nurse and induced through seeing old photographs. The Geriatric Depression Scale, Zung Self-rating Anxiety Scale, Reminiscence Functions Scale and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire were used to measure the emotional states, reminiscence functions and cognitive emotion regulation strategies. Participants' verbalisations were categorised using the Client Behavior System.

RESULTS

Reminiscence therapy relieved depression and anxiety. Both the reminiscence function and cognitive emotion regulation became more favourable after interventions. Furthermore, higher frequencies of recounting, cognitive-behavioural exploration and affective exploration were noted in the process. Participants with more severe depressive symptoms tended to display a higher frequency of affective exploration. The reduction in depression, self-negative reminiscence and negative-focused emotion regulation were respectively associated with verbalisations.

CONCLUSIONS

Individual reminiscence therapy might relieve negative emotion and improve reminiscence function and cognitive emotion regulation. The participants' verbalisation is worthy of our attention, due to its correlation with the severity of depression and its mitigating effects on the depression, anxiety, self-negative reminiscence and negative-focused regulation in older women. The results contribute to our understanding of the therapeutic procedure and suggest a need for more research on the therapeutic processes.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Study on processes could help training novice clinical interveners so that reminiscence therapy can work better on emotional disorders in clinical practice.

The clinical efficacy of reminiscence therapy in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer disease: Study protocol for a randomized parallel-design controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Alzheimer disease (AD) is one of the most common diseases among the older adults. Currently, various nonpharmacological interventions are used for the treatment of AD. Such as reminiscence therapy is being widely used in Western countries. However, it is often used as an empirical application in China; the evidence-based efficacy of reminiscence therapy in AD patients remains to be determined. Therefore, the aim of this research is to assess the effectives of reminiscence therapy for Chinese elderly.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This is a randomized parallel-design controlled trial. Mild and moderate AD patients who are in the Beijing Geriatric Hospital, China will be randomized into control and intervention groups (n = 45 for each group). For the intervention group, along with conventional drug therapy, participants will be exposed to a reminiscence therapy of 35 to 45 minutes, 2 times/wk for 12 consecutive weeks. Patients in the control group will undergo conventional drug therapy only. The primary outcome measure will be the differences in Alzheimer disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Section Score. The secondary outcome measures will be the differences in the Cornell scale for depression in dementia, Neuropsychiatric Inventory score, and Barthel Index scores at baseline, at 4 and 12 weeks of treatment, and 12 weeks after treatment.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The protocols have been approved by the ethics committee of Beijing Geriatric Hospital of China (approval no. 2015-010). Findings will be disseminated through presentation at scientific conferences and in academic journals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry identifier ChiCTR-INR-16009505.

Memory Matters: A Mixed-Methods Feasibility Study of a Mobile Aid to Stimulate Reminiscence in Individuals With Memory Loss

Reminiscence interventions are potentially effective in improving well-being of persons with memory loss (PWMLs) and may also enhance relationships with family and professional caregivers. Using a parallel convergent mixed-methods design, the feasibility of "Memory Matters" (MM), a mobile device application developed to promote reminiscence, was evaluated. Eighteen PWMLs and eight family members were enrolled from a long-term care facility and asked to use MM for 4 weeks. Participants were observed using MM at enrollment and 2 weeks and completed 1-month interviews. Six staff participants also completed a system review checklist and/or focus group at 1 month. Three qualitative domains were identified: (a) context of use, (b) barriers to use, and (c) MM influences on outcomes. Participants reported real-time social engagement, ease of use, and other benefits. However, PWMLs were unlikely to overcome barriers without assistance. Empirical data indicated that family and staff perceived MM favorably. Participants agreed that MM could provide stimulating, reminiscence-based activity. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 42(7), 15-24.].

The Effect of Narrative Reminiscence on Happiness of Elderly Women

BACKGROUND

Happiness has a considerable impact on elderly quality of life. Reminiscence therapy can be an effective intervention in increasing the positive emotions among elderly.

OBJECTIVES

This study was performed to investigate the effect of reminiscence therapy on Iranian elderly women's happiness.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This randomized clinical trial conducted on 32 elderly women (census sampling) attending the jahandidegan daycare elderly center IN Gorgan city, Iran, in 2013. Happiness scores of 4 phases were measured: before, the third session, the sixth session and one month after the intervention. Three instruments were used in this study including a demographic questionnaire, the mini mental state examination test, and Oxford happiness questionnaire. The intervention group participated in six sessions of narrative group reminiscence that were held in three consecutive weeks, two sessions per week. The control group was also participated in six sessions of group discussions that were held in three consecutive weeks, two sessions per week. Data analysis was performed the chi-square, independent t-test, Paired t-test.

RESULTS

From a total of 32 elderly women, 29 cases completed the study. No significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of demographic characteristics. The mean happiness scores before the intervention between the two groups were not significantly different (P = 0.824). Comparison of the mean happiness scores of the intervention group in the four measurement times revealed a significant difference only after the third and sixth sessions (P = 0.03), and no significant difference was found between the mean happiness scores of the control group in the four measurement times.

CONCLUSIONS

The elderly participating in the matched group sessions can be effective in increasing positive emotions.

Shadows from the past: the situated meaning of being suicidal among depressed older people living in the community

BACKGROUND

Most depressed older people in a suicidal state have mixed feelings, where the wish to live and the wish to die wage a battle.

AIMS

To explore and describe depressed older people's experiences of being suicidal and their search for meaning.

METHOD

Data were collected from 29 participants resident in the Rogaland and Vestfold districts of Norway, by means of individual interviews, after which a thematic analysis was performed.

RESULTS

For the participants in this study, the lived experiences of the situated meaning of survival after being suicidal comprised a main theme - "shadows from the past" - and two themes - "feeling that something inside is broken" and "a struggle to catch the light."

CONCLUSION

Mental health-care professionals might be able to reduce the risk of suicide and perturbation by helping depressed older people to explore, resolve, and ultimately come to terms with their unresolved historical issues. Additional valuable strategies in primary care settings include encountering patients frequently, monitoring adherence to care plans, and providing support to address the source of emotional pain and distress.

Effectiveness of group reminiscence for improving wellbeing of institutionalized elderly adults: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background

Group reminiscence therapy is a brief and structured intervention in which participants share personal past events with peers. This approach has been shown to be promising for improving wellbeing and reducing depressive symptoms among institutionalized older adults. However, despite the considerable interest in reminiscence group therapy, controlled studies to determine its specific benefits as compared to generic social interactions with peers (group conversations about everyday subjects) are still lacking.

Methods/Design

We have designed a randomized controlled trial aimed at comparing the effects of group reminiscence therapy with those of group recreational activity on the psychological wellbeing of an institutionalized sample of older adults. The study includes two groups of 20 hospitalized elderly participants: the experimental group and the control group. Participants included in the experimental group will receive six sessions of group reminiscence therapy, while the control group will participate in a recreational group discussion. A repeated-measures design will be used post-intervention and three months post-intervention to evaluate changes in self-reported outcome measures of depressive symptoms, self-esteem, life satisfaction, and quality of life from baseline.

Discussion

The protocol of a study aimed at examining the specific effects of group reminiscence therapy on psychological wellbeing, depression, and quality of life among institutionalized elderly people is described. It is expected that the outcomes of this trial will contribute to our knowledge about the process of group reminiscence, evaluate its effectiveness in improving psychological wellbeing of institutionalized individuals, and identify the best conditions for optimizing this approach.

Trial registration

This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (registration number: NCT02077153) on 31 January 2014.

The Effect of Individual Reminiscence Therapy on Self-Esteem and Depression Among Institutionalized Elderly in India

Nurses often elicit patients’ stories as a means to an end—for example, getting to know patients better and providing better care or treatments. However, the act of listening in itself can be therapeutic. Through the use of reminiscence therapy (RT), eliciting stories from elderly residents of a nursing home in India improved their sense of well-being. This article describes a study of the use of RT and presents one resident’s story.