Reminiscence:  the recollection of one's own life experiences

Reminiscence work:  The stimulation of social, education and creative activities that value people and their reminiscences

Ten good reasons for doing reminiscence work:

1. It connects the past with the present
2. It encourages sociability
3. It helps to make care more person-centred
4. it preserves cultural heritage
5. It reverses the gift relationship (I.e. the reminiscences become an offer which makes the offerer more of an equal with someone who is caring for them)
6. It enhances a sense of identity and self-worth
7. It helps a process of positive life review
8. It modifies people's perceptions of each other
9. It helps with assessment of needs and functions
10. It provides enjoyment on many levels

From Faith Gibson, Reminiscence and Recall: A Guide to Good Practice

Principles of good practice in reminiscence work:

• Person centred approach
• Good communication, active listening, recognise non-verbal signals (it is not a 'normal' conversation)
• Genuine interest
• Respect for personal choice (do not push the person into a  selection, allow them to chose their story, this is important)
• Fidelity and confidentiality
• Establishing trust and rapport
• Support for painful emotions
• Non-judgemental attitude
• Uncompetitive
• Warmth
• Good facilitation skills
• Use of memory triggers that stimulate the 6 senses (see more below)
• Use of inclusive and relevant themes
• A range of imaginative and creative opportunities
• Monitoring and evaluation at every stage
• Support, advice and guidance for fieldworkers

The memory triggers,

Verbal

reminiscence themes (in this case the Royal Festival Hall), active verbs (e.g. doing), specific technical language related to one's work, proverbs, mottos, poems (apparently very good), 'naughty' words, personal idiosyncratic words, catch-phrases, ‘old’ words, hymns, songs, brand names, advertising slogans, nursery rhymes, skipping songs, names of special people and places

Non-verbal

Visual:  photographs, newspaper cuttings, personal collectibles, film, slides, colours, birthday cards, scraps, old films, dreams, fashion magazines

Hearing: music, film scores, children, traffic, coughing,musical instruments,  instruments tuning up, fireworks, transport, the sea, different kinds of work, birdsong, railway whistle, the weather, street calls

Tactile: animals, fabrics, carpets, coins, people, sand, water, artifacts

Smell;  food, drink, tobacco, flowers, herbs, perfumes, cleaning and polishing materials, creosote, manure, the seaside

Taste:  Food and drink, tobacco, the air, tastes of the past from old-fashioned sweets

Movement:  dance, games, crafts, rocking, skating, cycling, holding a baby, different kinds of work, washing