The power of conversations as a form of dementia care

The power of conversations as a form of dementia care

Reminiscing about the past is something that most of us find fondness from.

For seniors living with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, connecting with past experiences and memories helps provide a viable source of fulfillment and comfort. It is actually a therapeutic exercise that engages senior individuals with positive interactions.

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By helping them recall past experiences using their various senses—sight, touch, taste, sound, and smell—you are able to help them enjoy better quality of life. They are also able to maintain a strong connection with other people instead of feeling alone and isolated due to what they are going through.

The simplest way to incorporate reminiscence therapy into the everyday lives of seniors is through conversations. You may start by asking them open-ended  questions, such as how did you meet your husband? or how do you celebrate Christmas?

Let them shuffle through their memories and tell you stories. Make sure to listen attentively in order to sustain the activity. Respond positively and ask follow-up questions. Give them time to process the questions and put together an answer. You may also share them some related experiences as a way of offering support or establishing a connection.

Aside from sustaining conversations, here are other ways to continue implementing reminiscence therapy as a form of dementia care:

• Look at old photo albums and ask questions about the people you see;
• Start putting together a scrapbook that trigger memories from them;
• Listen to music that they used to be very fond of during their younger years;
• Do some activities that they used to love doing with the family, such as writing letters, singing, or dancing (only if they still can);
• Whip out a family recipe and start a conversation about celebrations;
• Ask them a few “I reuser when” questions every now and then.

Reminiscing is all about sustaining healthy, positive conversations to help strengthen your senior loved ones connections to the world. In today’s advanced and fast-paced times, their knowledge and experiences may seem obsolete. Being able to talk and have someone listen to them can do wonders and help them feel good about themselves and their worth.