Reminiscence Therapy

A non-pharmacological therapeutic approach for people with dementia that uses artifacts, photographs, music, and other personally meaningful materials to stimulate recall of past experiences and prompt conversation about life events. Reminiscence therapy aims to maintain the self-identity of people with dementia, reduce apathy, improve mood and well-being, and strengthen connections between patients, staff, and family members. Digital tools can enhance reminiscence therapy by providing access to personalized multimedia materials — biographical photos, familiar music, street-view imagery of meaningful places — that are more engaging than generic stimuli. Research shows that personalized biographical materials produce significantly higher patient engagement than non-personal content.