Long Term Memory Essay
Remembering the past can bring a great deal of satisfaction and understanding for anyone. For the elderly, it is a way to affirm who they are, what they’ve accomplished in their lives, and a chance to relive happy times. For those who suffer from dementia, it is a way to talk easily about things they do remember. Feeling alone and unloved can make it harder to get to sleep and even speed the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
Reminiscing has taken place since the beginning of time through the storytelling of family histories across all nations. Modern gerontologists have studied the benefits of reminiscing with dementia patients because long-term memory is the last to go. By talking about their childhood and early adulthood, older adults
who suffer from dementia are more confident about socializing and using their verbal skills. Reminiscence therapy (RT) is the process of recalling personal experiences from an individual’s past. The theory behind RT is that an individual’s function is improved by decreasing demands on impaired cognitive abilities and capitalizing on preserved ones (AHCA/NCAL, 2016).
Reminiscence is beneficial and therapeutic because it not only values people's early life experiences but also values them as individuals. When people reminisce and share the memories with someone it re-enforces their sense of who they are and helps them understand and appreciate their lives providing sustenance and pleasure. Insights into another person's history and life stories connect and bind us in more meaningful and satisfying ways.
Reminiscing has taken place since the beginning of time through the storytelling of family histories across all nations. Modern gerontologists have studied the benefits of reminiscing with dementia patients because long-term memory is the last to go. By talking about their childhood and early adulthood, older adults
who suffer from dementia are more confident about socializing and using their verbal skills. Reminiscence therapy (RT) is the process of recalling personal experiences from an individual’s past. The theory behind RT is that an individual’s function is improved by decreasing demands on impaired cognitive abilities and capitalizing on preserved ones (AHCA/NCAL, 2016).
Reminiscence is beneficial and therapeutic because it not only values people's early life experiences but also values them as individuals. When people reminisce and share the memories with someone it re-enforces their sense of who they are and helps them understand and appreciate their lives providing sustenance and pleasure. Insights into another person's history and life stories connect and bind us in more meaningful and satisfying ways.