Reminiscence Therapy, One Approach for Dementia Patients

    Who does not know senile? Senile is a condition that is described by society as a condition of forgetfulness that interferes with their daily activities. In the medical world, this senility is known as dementia. Dementia is a cognitive disorder or higher functioning that is chronic in nature and can affect a person's ability to think, plan, and remember things. Dementia is accompanied by disturbances in daily activity functions. This causes people with dementia often experience difficulties in communicating and interacting with people around them and often feel lonely and isolated.

    To help people with dementia feel more comfortable and connected to the world around them, reminiscence therapy can be an option. This therapy is considered especially in dementia with behavioural and psychological disorders.

    Reminiscence therapy involves discussing past activities, events, and experiences, thereby helping people with dementia to recall important moments in their lives, whether they were from childhood to adolescence, when they were at work, or when they were in a certain social environment.

    Reminiscence therapy uses several tools in the form of videos, pictures, archive files, and diaries. Generally the duration of therapy lasts for 8 weeks and some studies show an increase in cognitive and mood within 4-6 weeks after therapy. This causes reminiscence therapy to be an option to improve cognitive function, especially in patients with mild to moderate dementia.

Reminiscence therapy can help improve the quality of life for people with dementia in the following ways:

1.     Increase social engagement

People with dementia tend to feel more connected to the people around them by recalling important moments in their lives. Reminiscence therapy can be a tool for people with dementia to strengthen relationships with their family, friends and acquaintances.

2.     Increase self-confidence

Recalling important accomplishments or experiences in life tends to increase the patient's self-confidence and feeling of value in life. This can help improve the overall quality of life.

3.     Improve cognitive function

Through reminiscence therapy, people with dementia can stimulate their cognitive functions such as memory, concentration, and language skills. This can help improve their ability to communicate with the people around them.

4.     Reduces symptoms of depression

     People with dementia often experience feelings of loneliness and isolation. By recalling important moments in their lives, they can feel more positive and have a better connection with the world around them. This can help reduce depressive symptoms and improve the their mental health.

    Reminiscence therapy can be done individually or in groups, and can be adapted to the needs of people with dementia. The therapist can use photos, books, or even music to help stimulate the patient's memory.

    While reminiscence therapy cannot cure dementia, it can help improve patient’s quality of life and help them feel more connected to the world around them. If you or a loved one has dementia, consider finding a therapist trained and experienced in reminiscence therapy.

References:

1. PERDOSSI. Panduan praktik klinik diagnosis dan penatalaksanaan demensia. Perhimpunan Dokter Spesialis Saraf Indonesia. 2015.
2. Woods B, Rai HK, Elliott E, Aguirre E, Orrell M, Spector A. Cognitive stimulation to improve cognitive functioning in people with dementia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2023, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD005562. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD005562.pub3.
3. Park K, Lee S, Yang J, Song T, Hong GS. A systematic review and meta-analysis on the effect of reminiscence therapy for people with dementia. Int Psychogeriatr. 2019 Nov;31(11):1581-1597. doi: 10.1017/S1041610218002168. Epub 2019 Feb 4. PMID: 30712519
4. Watt J A, Goodarzi Z, Veroniki A A, Nincic V, Khan P A, Ghassemi M et al. Comparative efficacy of interventions for reducing symptoms of depression in people with dementia: systematic review and network meta-analysis BMJ 2021; 372 :n532 doi:10.1136/bmj.n532
5. Cammisuli DM, Cipriani G, Giusti EM, Castelnuovo G. Effects of Reminiscence Therapy on Cognition, Depression and Quality of Life in Elderly People with Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Clin Med. 2022 Sep 28;11(19):5752. doi: 10.3390/jcm11195752. PMID: 36233620; PMCID: PMC9570531.