The Therapeutic Purposes of Reminiscence

`I was impressed with the accessibility of the book, offering a guided tour through the history, context and purposes of reminiscence therapy, the range of applications from promoting social and emotional stimulation to reminiscence as psychotherapy. It also provides a brief overview of its theoretical underpinnings and a philosophical view of reminiscence as enhancing unit cohesiveness. As a book for health professionals interested in reminiscence work, it is a must for the shelf. It provides a good basis from which to explore other topics and most importantly it emphasizes the need for adequate training and supervision for those undertaking this type of work. I was glad to see importance also given to assessment and the authors provide a very good working guide to the assessment process′ - Aging and Health`The text is user-friendly and features many tables and figures which illustrate or summarize important points...this is a most informative and readable book. Although the authors state that reminiscence work should not be limited to elderly people, most of the examples presented concern older adults. Therefore, this publication should be of particular interest to clinicians and students working with elderly people′ - British Journal of Occupational Therapy

• IntroductionPART ONE: SETTING THE SCENEAn Introduction to the PurposesThe History and Development of Reminiscence-Based ActivitiesThe 3Cs - Client, Carer, ContextPART TWO: REMINISCENCE WORK THAT HELPS CLIENTSReminiscence To Encourage Spontaneous Conversation between ClientsReminiscence To Encourage Informal Conversation between Staff and ClientsReminiscence as FunReminiscence To Promote Emotional and Social StimulationReminiscence To Promote Emotional and Social Stimulation with People Who Are Severely DisorientatedIndividual Reminiscence WorkReminiscence To Create Group CohesionReminiscence To Teach People How to Use Groups EffectivelyReminiscence To Re-Use Old Skills or Learn New OnesReminiscence as Oral History To Maintain or Improve SkillsReminiscence To Aid Intergenerational CommunicationReminiscence To Achieve Cultural LegacyReminiscence and SpiritualityReminiscence in Assessment and TreatmentReminiscence in the Assessment ProcessReminiscence as PsychotherapyReminiscence for Life ReviewReminiscence To Aid the Creation of a Positive IdentityPART THREE: USES OF REMINISCENCE TO BENEFIT CARERSReminiscence To Aid Communication between a Person with a Disability and Their FamilyReminiscence To Train Staff in Groupwork or To Improve Staff Groupwork SkillsPART FOUR: REMINISCENCE AS THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE UNITReminiscence To Improve Staff Understanding of the Individual and Reminiscence as the Working Philosophy of the UnitFinishing Time - `People and Listening to People...′