Abstract
The need to provide quality mental health care for elders in long term care settings has been a critical issue, as the aging population grows rapidly and long term residential care becomes a necessity for some elders. There is a current need for cost effective, non-pharmacological, and convenient ways to improve the health and well-being of older adults in long term care facilities (Burnside, 1990). Elders living in long term care facilities have a high rate of depression, loneliness, and negative psychological well-being, and generally research has shown reminiscence therapy significantly improves these conditions (Jones, 2003; Stinson & Kirk, 2006; Chiang, 2010). Residents at an assisted living community (ALC) in Northern California expressed an interest in obtaining a way to share and document their memories. Three reminiscence focus groups were proposed, approved, and carried out. Five female residents between the ages of 75 and 95 years old participated and had their memories documented with the goal of improving their health, well-being, and quality of life. Group evaluations analyzed and summarized for the activity director confirmed the effectiveness of this project in accomplishing the goal of improving the health, well-being, and quality of life of the ALC residents through sharing and documenting their memories. This project confirms current research findings on reminiscence therapy as a means of improving the health, well-being, and quality of life of older adults. The reminiscence group model created here can serve as a reference for future application in residential long term care settings.