Aging is a challenging process which is often accompanied by medical conditions like dementia. Dementia is a combined term for a group of symptoms, linked to a decline in cognitive abilities of an individual. People with dementia suffer from a short term memory loss, but they can still recall older memories. Reminiscence therapy is found to be very helpful to seniors with dementia.
Reminiscing is a simple mental exercise that can have many positive effects on seniors who suffer from dementia. The American Psychological Association (APA), describes reminiscence therapy as the practice of life histories – oral, written, or both – to increase psychological well-being.
However, reminiscing is different from remembering specific things from the past because remembering something specific can be stressful for people with dementia. Also, they might feel anxious when asked to do that. On the other hand, reminiscing is a gentle recall of past happy memories, which makes the patient feel content, warm, and at peace.
For seniors who have dementia, receiving reminiscence therapy is very important as:
Often, senior adults show a decline in mental ability and may need 24-hour home care to continue with their daily routine. You should find a caring and reliable in-home caregiver who is trained in reminiscence therapy to help your senior loved one feel appreciated, supported, and heard.
Contact us today to learn more about reminiscence therapy and how you can benefit from our comprehensive home care services for senior adults.
