What is
Spontaneous Reminiscence Therapy?
Imagine...
You popped into the mall to pick up something quickly.
As you walk, you hear a song and think to yourself, "Wow. I haven't heard this song since (insert memory, such as high school, college, etc.)".
You get what you need and what's that you smell?
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Mmm. Freshly baked cookies.
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You think again, "I remember making cookies every year with my Mom and Grandma. It's been a while."
That is an example of reminiscence therapy, that so many people experience frequently.
So what is Spontaneous Reminiscing?
Spontaneous reminiscing, or reminiscence, is an unplanned recall of memory typically elicited by something in the environment, such as a sensory experience or comment (Rainbow, 2003). There was nothing set in place to elicit these memories, but rather are a natural occurrence.
Implications and Use in Occupational Therapy Practice
While these memories cannot be planned, there are several methods in which an OT practitioner can utilize or enhance these periods of reminiscing.
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For example, when working with a client diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD) and they begin to tell a story. It is easy to brush off the story as an effect of the disease. However, it is also possible to take these moments as opportunities to reminisce and connect with a client (O'Shea et al., 2011).
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Additionally, as an OT practitioner, or fellow medical professional, creating opportunities to promote spontaneous memories, such as through the use of sensory stimulation. The sensory systems are highly associated with promoting and eliciting memories, therefore, a sensory-rich environment could promote the opportunity for these memories to occur (Webster et al., 2010.
References
O'Shea, E., Devane, D., Murphy, K., Cooney, A., Casey, D., Jordan, F., Hunter, A., & Murphy, E. (2011). Effectiveness of a structured education reminiscence-based programme for staff on the quality of life of residents with dementia in long-stay units: A study protocol for a cluster randomised trial. Trials, 12(41). https://doi.org/10.1186/1745-6215-12-41
Rainbow, A. (2003). The reminiscence skills training handbook, 1st ed. New York: Speechmark Publishing Ltc.
Webster, J. D., Bohlmeijer, E. T., & Westerhof, G. J. (2010). Mapping the future of reminiscence: A conceptual guide for research and practice. Research on Aging, 32(4): 527-564. https://doi.org/10.1177/0164027510364122