Reminiscence Therapy Guide

What is Reminiscence Therapy?

Reminiscence therapy uses the senses to help people living with Dementia to remember their past. Even though people with conditions that affect their memory often have difficulty remembering the recent events in their lives, they do often recall the past and their long-term memories.

Reminiscence therapy typically involves the use of everyday objects, sounds, photographs, familiar places and other items that help the person with dementia remember past events or experiences. That focus on preserved memories promotes positive communication and helps the recipient connect with their past and regain a sense of personal identity.

How to use this website for reminiscence therapy?

Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh’s iconic voice holds a special place in the hearts of many Irish people and GAA fans, particularly among older generations who grew up listening to his distinctive commentaries of GAA games.

This website has clips of games that Mícheál commentated on. Watch these clips with a person living with Dementia to evoke their memories of matches they watched or listened to. It is best to listen to these clips along with other stimulus and talk openly throughout about any experiences they might have had surrounding GAA games.

Here are tips and example stimulus that could be used in conjunction with the audio recordings:

  • Share objects from the persons past e.g. photos, videos, items of clothing, souvenirs, etc
  • Prompt them to remember specifics surrounding the match e.g. where did they watch or listen to it? Who were they with? What was the score?
  • Ask open ended questions about the match and their experiences surrounding it
  • Give them time to think and remember their experiences – engage in active listening
  • Incorporate other sensory stimulants like music, smells, food, objects
  • Share your own experiences – this should feel like a social conversation between people