Reminiscing with Elderly - Page: 2

Reminiscing is an enjoyable activity that can be done by everyone. It allows creativity in both the loved one and caregiver. When we think of talking about the past, we think of sitting down at a table and bringing up past experiences. But, we can do this in several other ways.

1. Put together a scrapbook.
You and your loved one can go through photo albums, saved newspaper clippings, cards and letters received in the past, and report cards from childhood and paste them in a book. Anything that is meaningful to you and your loved one can get placed in the book. By doing this, your loved one can practice her hand/eye coordination by placing items in different ways, by cutting paper if she is able, and by being creative.

2. Look through photo albums together.
Sit at the table with tea or coffee and go over each photo. If your loved one does not remember a person, but you do, tell her who it is. If you both don't remember, try to laugh it off. I have gone through my husband's album and his father doesn't remember who everyone is.

3. Play your loved one's favorite song.
Ask her why she loves this song so dearly. You may just find out more about your loved one. Then, you can share one of your favorites and tell her why you love your song so much.

4. Try to use picture cards.
You can show your loved one a flash card, either bought or a photo you have, and ask your loved one what they think of when they see this picture. It could be a photo of a dog, a house, or a letter.

5. Watch family videos or slides together.
Sit down and watch any videos or slides that your family has gathered. You can even do this with the whole family.

6. Look at toys.
If you have any toys from when you were growing up or that your loved one has kept, have a talk about that toy and why it means so much. You can also do this with an article of clothing or old books.

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Reminiscing can be a wonderful experience, but it is still important to be aware of some feelings that may come along while remembering the past.

Positive Feelings:
-Allows togetherness for loved one and caregiver.
-Enables loved one with memory loss to share what they remember about their past. With Alzheimer's, it is often the short term memory that is lost.
-It allows both parties to share precious thoughts with one another.

Not so Positive Feelings:
-Depending on the individual, there may be feelings of frustration if cannot remember.
-It may bring up a past experience that was not pleasant.

If your loved one gets upset or agitated, do not pressure. Stop Reminiscing and try again when you feel your loved one is ready. If she is upset because she cannot remember, be empathetic and explain that it is all right. There is a lot to remember especially when doing this with a loved one who is 70. If a situation arises where your loved one remembers a traumatic event, do not push the issue. Change the subject to a happier time.

If you would like to share your Reminiscing activities with others, please begin a discussion below.