The effect of reminiscence therapy on elderly quality of life

Increasing of life span affects on the life quality and the ability of each individual to live independently with requirement of others supporting and thus, use of adequate programming to encounter the situation in aging seems to be necessary. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the effect of reminiscence therapy on elderly life quality. In this interventional study, a total of 64 elderly referred to retirement center in Shahrekord city during 1358 were selected using random sampling and were divided randomly in two groups of case and control groups. Subsequently, each of the two groups were divided into 8-individual groups. Reminiscence meetings and group meetings were run for experimental and control group, respectively for eight sessions (one hour and a half, each). Quality of life of the individuals before and after the intervention was evaluated using lipid life quality questionnaires. Data were analyzed using Chi-square and paired t tests.. There was no significant difference in educational level, marriage, age, income and life quality dimension between the two groups. Mean of life quality in the case group, pre and post intervention, was 48.26±1.01 and 62.07±1.02, respectively (p<0.05). Also, in this group, mean of post intervention (compared with pre intervention) life quality in the cases of physical activity, depression and anxiety, cognitive activity, social and life satisfaction dimension was increased (p<0/05). However, pre and post intervention, there was no significant difference in the cases of self care dimension in experimental group and in total life quality dimension in control group. Based on the results, group reminiscence is effective on elderly life quality. Therefore, this technique can be used easily and inexpensively at home or elderly nursing homes.