The gradual loss of precious memories, recognizing loved ones and loss of self is a sad reality for people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. It can leave a person feeling isolated and disconnected from their surroundings and the people who love them. As a caregiver, creating activities that remind your loved one of cherished memories can help them reconnect and hold on to a piece of themselves as their world continues to change.
For people with dementia, looking at photographs of important events, holding treasured souvenirs and keepsakes, watching favorite movies and listening to favorite songs all can help stimulate the senses and elicit fond thoughts and memories. These activities can help recall familiarity with important people or experiences. This is the basis for a special form of therapy called reminiscence therapy that helps individuals with dementia recall their personal histories.
What is Reminiscence Therapy?
Reminiscence therapy is a treatment that uses all the senses — sight, touch, taste, smell and sound — to help individuals with dementia remember events, people and places from their past lived experiences. As part of the therapy, caregivers may use objects in various activities to help individuals with recall of memories.
An important component of reminiscence therapy is conversation. Using aids to prompt discussion can gently jog memories from the distant past and bring them into present awareness. Reminiscence can take place in a group or be done with a person on their own, where you can tailor the objects or activities to that individual’s life story.
Benefits of Reminiscence Therapy
Reminiscence requires minimal prompting — simple questions, photos, songs or the beginning of a family story — to help individuals with dementia recall memories from childhood and young adulthood.
Reminiscence therapy can help individuals:
- Experience better quality of life, and possibly improved cognition
- Maintain their self-esteem, confidence and sense of self
- Improve their ability to communicate openly
- Have opportunities to talk about what holds meaning for them
- Get relief from boredom or symptoms of depression
- Feel less stress and agitation
Reminiscence therapy can also help caregivers better understand their loved one. These prompts are meant to create an open dialogue, helping improve the line of communication between a person with dementia and their caregiver. For family caregivers, these conversations can also help with recording and preserving family stories for future generations.
It’s important to remember that life story and reminiscence work may sometimes bring up difficult or sad memories, and the person may become upset. If this happens, the person should be supported to express their feelings and to address the memory if they are comfortable doing so. Be sure to show a genuine interest in what your person is saying and show that you value their story.
Activity Suggestions
It may be easy to find prompts for reminiscence therapy, often all it takes is combing through a box of family heirlooms in the attic or dusting off the photo album sitting on the shelf.
However, if you’re looking for more inspiration, here’s a quick list of potential topics and activities:
- Holidays from childhood and early adulthood
- Favorite playground games/board games
- Foods, smells, likes, dislikes
- Pets and animals
- Family and relationships
- School days
- Photographs, family albums
- Music, playlists, album covers
- Tactile activities like painting, pottery, or other crafts
- Topics such as sports, cars, beauty products
You can find more prompts, activity outlines, and memory box ideas in the “Activity Book for Individuals Experiencing Memory Loss” created by Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center Social Worker Charon Cannon, MSW, LSW.
Overall, reminiscence therapy can be a beneficial experience both for the individual with dementia and their caregiver, helping prompt fond memories and important conversations. Using items that provide sensory stimulation can help the person connect to these memories and bring them into the present, helping improve their sense of self and addressing symptoms of depression. Reminiscence can also improve communication with the caregiver, and help the caregiver feel more connected to their loved one.
Sources: Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, National Institutes of Health, Elder Care Alliance, Dementia UK, Alzheimer’s Society
Last Updated on July 29, 2025
