The social workers at Pathways for Aging often treat depressed older adults who are struggling with these issues, as they near the end of their lives. Often they have lived through the Great Depression and World Wars and view engaging in traditional psychotherapy as a sign of weakness. How many times have we heard from an older adult that in their family, they were taught to “buck up” and deal with it? However, they may be more than willing to reminisce or take a listener through a treasured photo album. Who would disagree that simply a pleasant stroll down memory lane can be a beneficial and often therapeutic endeavor? Through the process of Therapeutic Life Review, we can certainly assist those in our care to see their accomplishments and strengths as well as reinforce prior coping strategies in a relaxed and non-confrontational way.
In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the benefits of therapeutic reminiscence. This may be due to the increase in the numbers of people living into their 80s, 90s and beyond, or it may be in an effort to establish more personal contacts in a society where email and cell phones are our primary modes of communication. Reminiscence whether in a group or in the presence of another person clearly promotes engagement and sociability with others.
Life review borrows from the “strengths based” as well as the person-centered model of the social work profession. It relies on the strengths, accomplishments and achievements of the person reviewing his or her own life. A basic assumption of life review is that each individual is the authority of his or her own life. In life review, there are no mistakes. Whatever a person recalls can be explored or validated.
Further, reminiscence can improve the self esteem and well-being of individuals with dementia. Even when short term memory is gone, they are likely to recall in fair detail events from their youth and young adulthood and beyond.
According to Erikson, integrity is the acceptance of ones’ entire life from birth to present. As social workers, healthcare professionals and caregivers, we have the ability and the opportunity to lead those in our care to integrity through the process of life review or reminiscence.
Life review can help individuals revisit those stages and perhaps in retrospect, make some sense of the painful memories. Dr. Erikson would agree that acceptance of a certain phase of ones’ life, even in hindsight, would help to achieve integrity- the ultimate goal of maturity.
Resources
Benevolent Society. (2005) Reminiscing Handbook. Retrieved July 3, 2008 from http://www.bensoc.org.au/uploads/documents/reminiscing-handbook-jan2006.pdf
Birren, J. (2006). Benefits of memory priming: Effects of guided autobiography and reminiscence. Retrieved July 3, 2008 from http://www.asaging.org/asav2/mindalert/pdfs/booklet_2006.pdf
Gibson, F. (2004). The past in the present: Using reminiscence in health and social care. Baltimore: Health Professions Press.
Haight, B. K. & Haight, B. S. (2007). The handbook of structured life review. Baltimore: Health Professions Press
