Taking a walk down “memory lane” is among the best things seniors can do for their mind and body. Memories and nostalgia let seniors resolve issues from their past, deal with negative emotions, and come to a more mature understanding of their lives, which also benefits their health.
Reminiscing can be facilitated by viewing old photographs, listening to a familiar song, tasting familiar food, or even smelling familiar smells. These triggers can bring back moments long forgotten—moments we may have not thought of as important until later in our lives.
Benefits of Nostalgia and Reminiscing
Reminiscing can provide a host of other benefits, including:
Reduction in negative emotions. Many seniors experience depression and boredom. Sharing memories and nostalgia with other people can provide opportunities for laughter, and a feeling of being connected to those around them while recalling stories about the past.
Improved communication skills. Talking about the past involves taking memories and expressing them verbally, strengthening story-telling abilities and effective communication skills. This encourages the brain to continuously create new pathways.
Less stress. Reminiscing has been shown to reduce stress and its effects: headaches, back pain, indigestion and heart palpitations, as well as cognitive and emotional issues like poor concentration, indecisiveness, irritability and edginess.
Enhanced personal value. Recalling the past can provide several benefits associated with nostalgia such as reminding seniors of their accomplishments, their contributions to society and family, and their value as a person who has led a meaningful life.
Emotional strength and confidence. Remembering the past and how they overcame obstacles can provide the strength and assurance a senior needs to take on challenges later in life.
Preserved family history. Passing on information about family history is not only important to a senior, but can help bridge the gap between different generations.
Reminiscence Therapy
This is a therapy often used to help people with poor memory recall, and it is especially helpful for seniors living with dementia. The therapy targets the timespan most easily recalled by people, typically between teenage years and early adulthood.
Memories and nostalgia from that timeframe are prompted by a familiar object, photograph or activity, and the therapy has been shown to improve overall quality of life, effectively treat depression, and boost cognition.
One technique of reminiscence therapy is mock interview. Open-ended questions can include:
- What did you like to do as a child?
- What is your favorite thing your mother made for dinner?
- What was your favorite holiday tradition?
- What was your first job like?
- How did your spouse propose?
- Have you ever been to a foreign country?
Prompting reminiscence for any senior can also be accomplished by talking about their favorite movie, reliving and observing holiday traditions, preparing a favorite family recipe, and asking for the story behind an object in the home.
The Power of Reminiscing and Nostalgia
People taking a trip to the neighborhood they grew up in feel the impact of memories and nostalgia. Seeing those familiar places can take them back to a specific time in their lives—the feelings they experienced there, friends from long ago, and specific events or funny memories that took place. These memories can provide a new perspective that may not have been achievable until more time had passed.
But it doesn’t even require seeing something to reminisce. Even hearing terms like Etch-a-Sketch, eight-track tapes, roller disco, or latch-hook rugs can produce a memory and a story to go with them.
You may be smiling already!
To solve problems in the present, sometimes all we need to do is remember our past.
Browse Bethesda’s Health & Wellness articles for more senior health tips.
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