Reminiscence Therapy (RT) involves the discussion of past activities, events and experiences with another person or group of people, usually with the aid of tangible prompts such as photographs, household and other familiar items from the past, music and archive sound recordings. It involves recalling past events as returning to these past incidents makes people feel pleasure. RT therapy improves a person’s sense of well-being and improves self-esteem and comfort among older patients. Reminiscence sessions may be conducted in a formal or informal way, either one-on-one or in a group setting. Reminiscing can be a type of talk therapy, but involves more than conversation.

The stimulation of the senses among cognitive impaired seniors often brings back past memories. When the senses are activated, it makes for more vivid remembering. There are various techniques of Reminiscence Therapy. The first technique is Visual, which involves taking out old photo albums and watching old movies of the family. Also, talking with relatives about their photographs, magazine clippings, letters, and diaries and asking open-ended questions to stimulate their memories. The other tecgnique is Aural, which involves playing songs they grew up listening or from their favorite bands using YouTube on your phone. Music therapy has a host of positive health effects including lowering blood pressure, boosting immunity, and staving off depression.

The other technique is taste, which involves cook senior relatives their favorite foods. Therapists talk with them about what they remember about eating these foods as a child. The other technique is Tactile, where seniors are asked to hold a high school sports trophy or given their old sweaters to touch. The last technique is Olfactory, where  use  aromatic scents, perfumes, and scented candles to trigger memories. Olfactory system is the part of our brain that affects emotions and memory.