Reminiscence Therapy Research Paper
Reminiscence Therapy
According to “The Use of Reminiscence Therapy for the Treatment of Depression in Rural-Dwelling Older Adults” in Issues in Mental Health Nursing, reminiscence therapy is using the recall of past events, feelings, and thoughts to facilitate adaptation to present circumstances. In the article, there was great emphasis on the need for nurses skilled in evaluating and developing interventions that targeted the mental health needs for older adults, especially those residing in long-term care facilities. According to their research, elders residing in rural areas have an increased incidence of decreased functional and sensory abilities, limited financial resources, weaker social support, inappropriate dietary intake, isolation,
lack of basic problem solving skills, depression, and chronic diseases as opposed to elders residing in more urban areas. With these findings, they have found reminiscence therapy to be effective in preventing or reducing depression, increasing life satisfaction, improving self-care, improving self-esteem, and helping older adults deal with crises, losses, and life transitions. The increased use of reminiscence therapy through the years has proved to have many benefits other than its therapeutic ability but its benefit socially and recreationally for the older adults as well as its cost-effectiveness. Over the weekend, I interviewed my 75-year-old grandmother. She is currently living in Las Vegas with my grandfather but they decided to drop by for a visit. They used to live in Elgin, Illinois but a few years ago they decided to move in with my aunt and her family in Las Vegas to relax and enjoy their lives without the cold weather. My grandmother loves to cook, shop, swim, watch her Filipino soap operas, Facebook, play on her iPad, help take care of her great-grandchildren, and occasionally try her luck at the casinos.
My grandmother loves to tell stories about her life. Even if no one asks her about it, something she sees, smells, hears, tastes, touches will trigger a memory and she will proceed with her story. Although I have heard most of her stories, it still always warms my heart to see my grandmother’s face light up when she gets excited talking about her childhood, raising her six children, watching her grandchildren grow up, family traditions, etc. My grandmother is a child at heart and I know she fears her future. I believe her story telling is her coping mechanism that gives her some sort of inner peace that she lived a successful life filled with love and happiness. I strongly believe that reminiscence therapy is a very beneficial tool to use in older adults for many reasons. This increases the ability to communicate and practice self-expression for the older adult, it is a way to interact socially with others by sharing their experiences, it increases self worth and provides a sense of achievement in older adults, and it alleviates depression (Davis & Little 2002). As a nurse, I would gain knowledge and understanding about the person’s life, history, achievements, and find the links between their past experience and present behavior. This can also aid in establishing trust with my patient by showing interest as well as show that I am a genuinely caring nurse. I like the fact that reminiscence therapy does not involve the use of medications and it can be easily incorporated in the patient’s activities. All it requires is minimal space, a little bit of my time, and they would acquire so many therapeutic benefits that will make their life easier.
Works Cited
Davis Jones, Ellen, and Rebecca Beck-Little. "The Use Of Reminiscence Therapy For
The Treatment Of Depression In Rural-Dwelling Older Adults." Issues In Mental
Health Nursing 23.3 (2002): 279-290. Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition.
Web. 20 Apr. 2013.
According to “The Use of Reminiscence Therapy for the Treatment of Depression in Rural-Dwelling Older Adults” in Issues in Mental Health Nursing, reminiscence therapy is using the recall of past events, feelings, and thoughts to facilitate adaptation to present circumstances. In the article, there was great emphasis on the need for nurses skilled in evaluating and developing interventions that targeted the mental health needs for older adults, especially those residing in long-term care facilities. According to their research, elders residing in rural areas have an increased incidence of decreased functional and sensory abilities, limited financial resources, weaker social support, inappropriate dietary intake, isolation,
lack of basic problem solving skills, depression, and chronic diseases as opposed to elders residing in more urban areas. With these findings, they have found reminiscence therapy to be effective in preventing or reducing depression, increasing life satisfaction, improving self-care, improving self-esteem, and helping older adults deal with crises, losses, and life transitions. The increased use of reminiscence therapy through the years has proved to have many benefits other than its therapeutic ability but its benefit socially and recreationally for the older adults as well as its cost-effectiveness. Over the weekend, I interviewed my 75-year-old grandmother. She is currently living in Las Vegas with my grandfather but they decided to drop by for a visit. They used to live in Elgin, Illinois but a few years ago they decided to move in with my aunt and her family in Las Vegas to relax and enjoy their lives without the cold weather. My grandmother loves to cook, shop, swim, watch her Filipino soap operas, Facebook, play on her iPad, help take care of her great-grandchildren, and occasionally try her luck at the casinos.
My grandmother loves to tell stories about her life. Even if no one asks her about it, something she sees, smells, hears, tastes, touches will trigger a memory and she will proceed with her story. Although I have heard most of her stories, it still always warms my heart to see my grandmother’s face light up when she gets excited talking about her childhood, raising her six children, watching her grandchildren grow up, family traditions, etc. My grandmother is a child at heart and I know she fears her future. I believe her story telling is her coping mechanism that gives her some sort of inner peace that she lived a successful life filled with love and happiness. I strongly believe that reminiscence therapy is a very beneficial tool to use in older adults for many reasons. This increases the ability to communicate and practice self-expression for the older adult, it is a way to interact socially with others by sharing their experiences, it increases self worth and provides a sense of achievement in older adults, and it alleviates depression (Davis & Little 2002). As a nurse, I would gain knowledge and understanding about the person’s life, history, achievements, and find the links between their past experience and present behavior. This can also aid in establishing trust with my patient by showing interest as well as show that I am a genuinely caring nurse. I like the fact that reminiscence therapy does not involve the use of medications and it can be easily incorporated in the patient’s activities. All it requires is minimal space, a little bit of my time, and they would acquire so many therapeutic benefits that will make their life easier.
Works Cited
Davis Jones, Ellen, and Rebecca Beck-Little. "The Use Of Reminiscence Therapy For
The Treatment Of Depression In Rural-Dwelling Older Adults." Issues In Mental
Health Nursing 23.3 (2002): 279-290. Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition.
Web. 20 Apr. 2013.