Reminiscence group work for people with dementia:

A case-study

Dementia and reminiscence:

Dementia is an illness that affects the older population and there is no cure for it. It affects not only the person with dementia but also families and carers as they adjust their lives to cope with it. Although there are sedatives used to ease symptoms, research have shown that they often have unpleasant side effects and do little to help (NICE 2007).

Reminiscence therapy is a means of recollecting the past in order to cope better with the presentt. For older people one way of coping with ageing is by remembering times when they were more independent, fitter and able to do whatever they want without any assistance. It was found that, although people with dementia have problems with memory, they tend to have some clear memories about events from the past (Gibson 2004).

Why use Reminiscence in Dementia care?

  • As a means to know and understand people
  • As a means of promoting conversation and communication
  • As a confidence building activity
  • Helps maintain and access autobiographical memory
  • Develops a sense of group belonging
  • Celebrate different backgrounds

What skills and attitudes are needed for successful reminiscence work?

  • Good listening skills and sense of humour
  • The ability to adapt to change of plans
  • Co-operative conversational strategies
  • Group work skills
  • Practical approach to managing the artifacts or items

Reminiscence sessions based on RYCT (Remembering Yesterday, Caring Today) approach(Schweitzer and Bruce 2008)

Schweitzer and Bruce (2008) havedeveloped a programme of 12 weekly sessions based around the following themes:

  1. Introduction – getting to know each other and ice breaking sessions
  2. Childhood and family Life
  3. Schooldays
  4. Starting work and working lives
  5. Going out and having fun
  6. Weddings
  7. Homes, gardens and animals
  8. The next generation – babies and children
  9. Food and cooking
  10. Holidays and travel
  11. Celebration
  12. Rounding up and evaluation

I decided to run the sessions set around the above themes. I did a research on where to get objects related to the above themes. In Edinburgh, tThe Leith library have pictures and posters related to World War Two and playthings such as a skipping rope, diabola etc.

The Museum of Childhood has themed boxes related to the above themes. The themed boxes are: Baby, School, Hobbies, Street Games and Trips, Treats and Celebrations. Each box has different items related to the theme. Once you have an idea of what you would like to do, it is best to book the boxes in advance.

Useful resources that could trigger memories

  • Objects such as leather football, skipping rope etc.
  • Photographs.
  • Smells associated with childhood, early life experience and hobbies such as herbs, soap, camphorated oil and perfumes.
  • Tastes such as old fashioned toffee tins, china cups and old recipe books.
  • Textures and books such as old fabrics, crochet, shawls.
  • Sounds and music like church bells, nursery rhymes.
  • Films or music relating to dancing

[Adapted from Schweitzer and Bruce (2008)]

If you have a granny or know someone who have a collection of items related to the past such as old china cups, shawls, old cassette tapes, old recipe books, knitting sticks, school uniforms you could use it for your group.

What I did

I had to book themed boxes of reminiscence items from the Leith library and the Museum of Childhood. As I was running the group by myself, I decided not to have more than 5 to 6 people for each session. It was an open group and participants were invited before each session started. The session runs for an hour, once a week for five weeks. I had a theme for each week based on the themed box of reminiscence items. Although each session had a theme, it was service user led. I had informed participants three weeks before I finished that I was going to finish the session ina few weeks time. I reminded them how many weeks we have left for the session. On my last session, I clearly explained to the group why the group was going to end. I went round and explained it to each member and let them know what the group has meant to me.

I found that all the participants were engaging and supportive of one another. We often think that people with dementia have lost their memory. However, I learned that people with dementia do not entirely forget everything that had happened in their past life. I felt that artifacts are fantastic way of triggering their memories about their past. I think that the participants felt a sense of belongingness within the group whereby they could share their life experience.

If you don’t remember participants names DO NOT PANIC!!! Each memberhas their names written in their zimmer frame. Or you could get a name sticker for each participant.

Practicalities

Apart from the one hour session, it takes atleast an hour to set up. It took me half an hour to transport the box from the museum to the care home and half an hour to set up the room and invite participants to come along to the group. It took me another half an hour to transport the box back to the Museum. However, this could vary depending on whether you have your own transport or use public transport.

Resources

Leithlibrary (Pictures, posters and artifacts)

28-30 Ferry Road, EdinburghEH6 4AE. Tel: 0131 529 5517

Themed boxes of items can be booked from

Museum of Childhood

42 High Street
Old Town, Edinburgh, EH1 1TG
Tel: 0131 529 4142

References

Schweitzer, P & Bruce, E (2008): Remembering Yesterday, Caring Today Reminiscence in Dementia Care A Guide to Good Practice: JKP London

Gibson (2004) CITED in Schweitzer, P & Bruce, E (2008): Remembering Yesterday, Caring Today Reminiscence in Dementia Care A Guide to Good Practice: JKP London

Siamte Hauzel, University of Edinburgh student 16.02.2009

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