Social distancing guidelines are meant to protect everyone, especially older adults, from COVID-19. But isolation can also cause harm for seniors, who are already vulnerable to chronic loneliness, which can have devastating health effects. While we are not able to see or touch older friends or family members in person, we should still support them from afar. Each senior is different. Some require caregivers, while others can independently look after themselves.  It’s still important to stay in touch with older adults to make sure they are safe and coping emotionally with the toll of the pandemic. One of the most successful tools of working with the seniors is Reminiscence therapy, which is used to counsel and support older people. It has been used over the past two decades extensively in the management of patients with dementia and geriatric depression.

Reminiscence therapy sessions with seniors focus on recalling happy times from their past. There isn’t a single thing we do that isn’t based at least somewhat on memory. Even things that are instinctual, like eating, are tied up with how we remember; we remember what food we like to eat, how to prepare it, where the forks are, how we were taught how to hold a knife, how this tasted on that night when it was warm out and the wind rustled the leaves behind the table.

Reminiscence sessions give older adults an opportunity to talk and share something meaningful rather than just listen to others speak. The positive feelings gained from sharing pleasant memories decrease stress, boost mood, bring joy, reduce agitation, help them cope with stress and minimize challenging behaviors like wandering, anger and more. Reminiscence Therapy is proven to be calming by improving the mood of seniors without use of medication. Reminiscing is enjoyable and has no side effects.

With partnership with Brooklyn and Queens Senior Centers, we provide once a week telephone reminiscence session with certified couch for the seniors in need.