Reminiscence is the intentional or spontaneous process of retrieving episodes personally lived in the past. It is the voluntary or involuntary action of recollecting memories from ones past. Reminiscence may or may not have a logic or sequence in terms of the topics recalled, and understanding and evaluation are not an integral part of reminiscence, which tends to be highly spontaneous and mostly unstructured.
Reminiscence can be regarded as a spontaneous phenomenon emerging in different settings, which forms part of many social and family events, providing people with the opportunity to relate episodes and/or tell their life history. In older adults, reminiscence can be used as a therapeutic intervention strategy in different fields, such as a prevention strategy for mental disorders or a way to promote mental health.
Reminiscence therapy has been used for decades as a non-pharmacological treatment or tool that has produced both positive and negative results. It has been shown to have positive effects on meaning of life, sense of coherence, and coping in older women living in nursing homes during COVID-19. Different types of reminiscence, such as integrative reminiscence, have been associated with successful aging.
There are no specific ingredients or materials associated with reminiscence, as it is a mental process rather than a physical product.
