Reminiscence therapy and dementia care in the Pacific island of Guam

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundPersons living with dementia often find it easier to remember experiences from long ago—including memories from their youth and early adulthood—than to recall recent events, such as what they did that week or even earlier that day. As a result, trying to navigate the present can be stressful and overwhelming, while reminiscing about the past can be a comforting experience. Connecting with valued memories from the past often helps persons living with dementia maintain their identity, preserve their sense of self, and enhance their overall quality of life. Reminiscence therapy was developed as a way to achieve these benefits by engaging older adults in the exploration of cherished memories to improve cognitive functioning and psychological well‐being. In recent years, reminiscence therapy has become an effective and popular approach to providing therapeutic support for persons living with dementia.MethodTraining in reminiscence therapy was provided to family and professional caregivers in the Pacific island of Guam through a weekly online support group. Training sessions were designed to help caregivers learn to use reminiscence therapy with persons with dementia in culturally sensitive ways reflecting the oral storytelling traditions of Pacific island cultures. Session topics addressed: (1) the benefits of reminiscence for persons with dementia, from maintaining memory health to building confidence and self‐esteem; (2) guidance from local writers and historians on how to talk with older adults about their life histories, including questions to ask and ways to evoke favorite memories; (3) the use of historical photos from Guam as conversation starters for older adults with memory loss; and (4) sharing stories about growing up in Guam in the 1930s, '40s, ‘50s, and ‘60s, along with readings from memoirs based on this period.ResultParticipants reported highly positive experiences with implementing reminiscence therapy with persons with dementia in their care. The techniques helped persons with dementia to relive beautiful memories and to share these memories with their families.ConclusionProgram outcomes indicate that online training in reminiscence therapy is an effective way to teach caregivers skills to promote memory health and psychological well‐being for persons living with dementia.