Reminiscing
Sharing and recollecting memories with seniors helps them affirm who they are. Reminiscing is a stimulating activity that promotes social interaction.
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Dance Hall Days Reminiscing
Dance Hall Days I did a reminisce session about the old dance hall days from the 1940's to 1960's in the UK and put together some questions.
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Reminiscing: How to Create a Memory Board
Residents downsize quite a bit to move into a care home. Help them reminisce about their past while you learn more about them by creating Memory Boards!
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Arm Chair Travel with YouTube
Something that has worked really well in my home is a program I refer to as arm chair travel. So many of the residents here have traveled around in younger years, and are now not able to do so.
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Fads of the 1940s and 1950s
The 1940s and 1950s were decades of profound and lasting cultural change. There was plenty of trauma and upheaval but in this this article we concentrate on what was good and fun!
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Puppetry for the Elderly
Joyous interaction with self and others is vital to health. I do not believe that puppetry is too childish for the aged.
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Guess the Celebrity Ages
We decided to create a guessing game for our residents and adapted it so that it could be used with a wide range of abilities. It was a really fun and easy to make activity, you can add celebrities that are well known in your area!
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Old Occupations Quiz
Most of the following occupations no longer exist or are now known by different names. Clients may remember some other obscure occupations to add to this list!
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Famous Faces
Download various faces of famous people, present and past. Show the residents the face and have them guess the famous face. We also have a little discussion on each person.
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Winter Campfire
Take a journey down memory lane by engaging each resident in sharing their experiences of camping or holidays they remember.
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Around the World
This is a wonderful interactive armchair travel activity for residents of all capabilities and great for one-on-ones or group sessions. Using a world globe and your ipad you can transport someone to another Country, talk about their culture, food, economy, music, lifestyle, dress, traditions, famous places, famous people, etc. It really is endless what you can discuss in these sessions.
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Down Memory Lane with Autograph Books
Traditionally, autograph books were small books with blank pages to collect personal messages and well-wishes from colleagues and friends. Revive this much-loved past-time of a bygone era with elderly residents!
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Look & Listen
I invited & encouraged my Residents to bring along something precious to them, to our Activity Group.
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Fortune Fun
Have the residents write their own fortunes/lucky numbers on small pieces of paper. Then get them to help create the dough for the fortune cookies! These cookies can be used for dessert at dinner or as a snack. Either way, the residents will enjoy creating the cookies and sharing their words of wisdom with the rest of the community.
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Springtime Engagement
What makes spring unique for you? Do you like to be outside and feel the sun on your face? ffer opportunities for walking, and take time to enjoy the flowers and signs of spring.
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Items We All Lose
We had so much fun & great communication between residents as they thought they were the only one that had misplacing items. Every time a resident placed an item on the "list" others would comment that they have done the same.
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Brain Training
We often make mind maps during our brain training sessions. Anyway, we thought we would see how many daft/silly/funny/ songs we could come up with.
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Stick Figure Drawing & Storytelling
Drawing is a fun and interactive activity to pursue. Most people have done a little drawing or at least some doodling at some point in their lives. Offer clients the opportunity to revisit drawing as a pastime.
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The Life and Tunes of X
We gather information about a famous singer that guests will know with some interesting facts.
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Reminiscing with Vintage Photos
Vintage photos from yesteryear provide wonderful reminiscing opportunities for the elderly living with dementia. Remembering the past helps the elderly affirm their lives and uncover deep-seated memories.
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Names & Surnames Reminiscing Activity
The origins and meanings of names attract a lot of interest and are a wonderful subject for reminiscing with clients.
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United States: Reminiscing About Life in 1915
Some statistics from the year 1915.
Only one hundred years ago!7 Comments
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Australia: Reminiscing About Life In 1915
One hundred years ago Australia was only 14 years out of federation; a very young nation indeed! Let’s reflect on how things were different in 1915.
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Hats & Headgear Game
This is a fun game and reminiscing activity for seniors!
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Remembering 1966
Let's reminisce about what was happening in the world 50 years ago. Discover more interesting anecdotes that your clients remember and add to the list below. A wonderful reminiscing activity for seniors!
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Campfire Theme Social
Let's bring the outside inside. The responses that I have gotten from the residents have all been positive. The campfire brings back some good memories of family times, cottage life and being on a farm.
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Match Pictures with Shows
Here's a fun visual reminiscing quiz for seniors - match the images with the tv show or movie they belong to!
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Read Aloud Activities for the Elderly
For the elderly who loved to read all their lives, listening to someone read to them can bring profound comfort and joy. Why not start a Read-Aloud Readers Group activity at your facility; a Book Club with a difference! Read-aloud activities are an intervention well worth pursuing.
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Read-Aloud: Audience Participation Story
An audience participation story engages the audience in the story. It is a fun activity that promotes focus and creativity. Clients may repeat a word or phrase throughout the story: sing, gesture, or act.
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Read-Aloud: Open-ended Story
Open-ended stories provide a creative way to engage clients in a story. Read a short story where the ending in inconclusive or incomplete. Clients may speculate how the story can continue, or how the problem can be solved. Write client answers on a white board and read them out at the end of the activity.
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Read Along Books for Dementia Residents
Read Along books for dementia residents
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Magazine Collage
Great activity, calming and encouraging discussion and creativity. It really has been very therapeutic for the residents to create.
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Friendship Day
I asked the residents to bring along anything they had which reminded them of a friend. It was quite amazing the effect the activity had on the residents.
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First Aid Fun
We had a lot of fun with this. I printed off some simple first aid techniques & some old fashioned remedies.
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Nursery Rhyme Quiz III
Depending on the age group, and of course personality traits, few have said they find them quite juvenile, and others love it and try to complete them... and are pleasantly surprised at , after all these years, how much they have retained!
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Reminiscence - Childhood Nursery Rhymes
Nursery Rhymes from the 1930s to Sing, Discuss & Reminisce about.
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Brand Names and Slogans Quiz 2
Match the Slogans of Yesteryear on the left with the Brands on the right. Suitable for people who grew up in North America. Quiz 2!
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Brand Names and Slogans Quiz 1
Match the Slogans of Yesteryear on the left with the Brands on the right. Suitable for people who grew up in North America. Quiz 1!
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Armchair Travel: A Sensory Experience for Seniors
Armchair Travel takes people to faraway places without leaving home. It provides a sensory experience and the opportunity to learn about exotic lands and important past events in a meaningful manner. This is a wonderful activity for seniors living in nursing homes and suitable for people with dementia.
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Nursery Rhyme Quiz II
Nursery Rhymes are a good topic for conversation and reminiscing for people with dementia. Take your time when doing this quiz and encourage clients to sing and share memories.
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Scent Guessing
Sensory stimulation with familiar scents. A fun activity for seniors and the elderly living with dementia.
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Reminiscing Activities for Seniors
Reminiscing with the elderly is a wonderful way to validate the lives of individuals and provide seniors with a sense of purpose, especially those living with dementia. Reminiscing activities also encourage social interaction and promote interpersonal skills.
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Yesteryear Song Quiz
Sing the next line of these songs... This quiz includes prompts for a reminiscing session.
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Reminiscing: The Early Days of Black & White T.V
6 people share their memories of how they were first introduced to television. Use this as a starting point to generate your own discussion and reminiscing session.
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Spring Reminiscing
Spring reminiscing for the elderly. After months indoors, encourage residents to breathe-in and enjoy the fresh air of spring!
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Engaging through discussion and music
In the United States, there have been some events and happenings that are etched in people's long term memory.
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How to Conduct a Reminiscing Session
Encouraging seniors to recollect and share memories is a stimulating mental activity. It promotes good social interaction and strengthens friendships. Wonderful and touching stories may be derived from this activity.
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13 Reminiscing Themes for Seniors
Sharing and recollecting memories with seniors in long term care helps them to affirm who they are and maintain self worth.
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Soap Making Recipe
This is a great activity for sitting folks around a table reminiscing, uses all the senses!
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Summer Reminiscing
Summertime elicits memories of ice cream, movies, the beach, and early work experiences from when we were teenagers.
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Winter Reminiscing
Ideas for a Winter Reminiscing Session. Reminiscing is a simple story-telling activity where a group of people share memories.
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Wedding Photo Guessing Game
Wedding photo guessing game
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Remembering the clothesline
You have to be a certain age to appreciate this one.
I can hear my mother now...13 Comments
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Flower Smelling
I filled a vase with peonies and lavender and took it to as many residents as possible.
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Musical Bingo
Musical Bingo improves recall and provides opportunities to reminisce. It is also an enjoyable and sociable game. This game was created by a Music Therapist I worked with and it was very popular in our Dementia Care Unit. If you don't have time to put the game together, ask a volunteer to help you. All you need is a computer, a printer and a laminator. This activity includes downloadable song cards and calling cards.
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Virtual Camping
Take your residents on a virtual camping trip!
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School Days Reminiscing Cards
This is a wonderful game that can be adapted to any occasion. Residents will enjoy reminiscing and sharing stories.
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Reminiscing: I remember my Dad
Encourage residents to reminisce with some questions about their own fathers or male role models.
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Stories Out of a Hat
Another way to engage residents and reminisce in a group setting. Thank you for this idea Anjanie!
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Friendship Afternoon
Freshly baked bread, a cup of tea and the opportunity to reminisce. A wonderful social activity for the elderly.
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Mothers Day Reminiscence
Here is a lovely reminiscing activity with photos to enjoy on Mother's Day.
Thank you Debbie for this activity idea!2 Comments Member Activity
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Beach Reminiscing
The theme for this reminiscing session is: The Beach.
18 sample questions are provided.8 Comments
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Tactile Reminiscing Ideas
Here are some ideas to encourage residents to use their fine motor skills and reminisce at the same time. Thanks Joanne!
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Worlds Teachers Day Reminiscing
There are many ways to reminisce on World Teachers' Day; here are some suggestions.
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Dream Weaving
An inspiring program to transform dreams into reality.
Another wonderful idea submitted by Ron. Thank you Ron!6 Comments Member Activity
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Armchair travel with Google Maps
Use Google Maps and the Street View option to take your resident's back to their original homes or on tours of famous World landmarks! It's almost standing room only as residents are now bringing in their children's addresses along, staff are also showing us their abodes.
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Herbal Scent Tea Party
Try inviting relatives for this activity; it is an enjoyable occasion.
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Potato Peeling Competition
Reminisce about familiar skills and have fun with this potato peeling competition!
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Story Book Reminiscing Activity
Celebrate International Children's book Day with this story book activity.
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Reminiscing on Mother's Day
Validation of feelings. Stimulate memory.
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Nursery Rhyme Game
Memory recall and reminiscing
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My Father's Profession Game
This is a wonderful reminiscing activity that will engage men in a social setting.
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Waltzing
Fun exercise and opportunity for social interaction.
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Ladies Discussion
Reminiscing and mental stimulation through socialising
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Storytelling
This is a wonderful one-on-one activity for the elderly, including those living with dementia. It promotes memory recall and reinforces self-worth by validating their past lives.
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Daily Living Activities
Engagement of residents in tasks they used to do in their own home. A very calming activity. Ideal for people living with dementia.
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Guessing Game
Orientation, reminiscing and enjoyment. Socialization.
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Sweetheart Tree
Gathered pictures of residents with their sweetheart.
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You're quite the special angel here to assist everyone. It takes a special kind of person to deal with seniors - they are not given the respect or credit they so deserve to have lasted this long on this earth. To have witnessed such history is amazing. So many are forgotten about and I try everyday to share RAOKs (Random Acts of Kindness) with any person I see that could use it - thank you again for the great ideas which I hope to spread around the area to help make others know how special they are.
Judith Prince
Carer
United States
