© Jakovo via Getty Images
Remembering yesterday , caring today
Sandie Woods has been supporting the delivery of the Remembering Yesterday , Caring Today programme , for people with dementia of Jewish heritage in a residential and nursing home setting . Here she reflects on the experience .
D ementia UK ( 2022 ) describe reminiscence therapy as discussing events and experiences from the past to evoke memories , stimulate mental activity and improve a person ’ s wellbeing , supported by tools such as videos , music , pictures , objects and memory books .
Remembering Yesterday , Caring Today is an approach and a specific programme that focuses on creative artsbased reminiscence work , multisensory stimulation , and verbal and non-verbal channels of communication ( Schweitzer and Bruce 2008 ).
The work of Tom Kitwood ( 1997 ) formed the theoretical foundation for the person-centred approaches used in the programme , and what Brooker ( 2004 ) described as the VIPS framework .
This includes valuing people , treating each person as an individual , looking at the world from the perspective of each person with dementia and a supportive social environment .
The sessions are designed around a life course , for example incorporating childhood and family life , schooldays , starting work , having fun , holidays , homes and pets and significant life events .
34 OTnews June 2023