An Effective Method on Cognitive and Behavioral Problems of Alzheimer Patients: Reminiscence Therapy

Alzheimer’s disease causes deteriorations in both cognitive and physical functions and patientsgradually require more care with these increasing deteriorations. Pharmacologic agents usedin the treatment of Alzheimer’s are usually effective on symptoms of the disease. Therefore, non-pharmacological therapies are gaining importance in management of the symptoms that are experienced by Alzheimer patients. Among those non-pharmacologic therapies,“Reminiscence Therapy” is one of the most common methods. In reminiscence therapy, which is an independent nursing intervention, older adults are encouraged to recall and discuss their positive past experiences, and share their positive emotions in individual or group sessions. Usually, reminiscence therapy is administered for consecutive 12 weeks with 30-45 minute duration sessions within groups consisting 2-5 people. Recent studies showed the effectiveness of reminiscence therapy in management of cognitive and behavioral problems of Alzheimer patients. This article aims to provide basic information on reminiscence therapy and increase the use of reminiscence therapy among nursing interventions in our country.