Hi, Hugh
I can't claim to give you an authoritative answer to your question, but certainly the kind of activity you describe could well have been included in your study as a reminiscence activity,
should we have decided on a visual presentation condition rather than oral or written conditions.
The activity you describe, however, also has similarities with the 'life review' approach, which is a form of reminiscence, but more chronologically structured, and usually undertaken alone, rather than in a group setting (which most reminiscence activity is undertaken within). Robert Butler pioneered this kind of work in the Sixties.
I hope you find this information useful.
While our research has not found that reminiscence activity in particular is greatly more beneficial than other forms of meaningful activity for older people, there is no doubt that for some older people reviewing one's past or discussing the past in a peer group can be very enjoyable and can improve well-being. I should think your products could be quite valuable in this regard.
Best Wishes
Kevin J McKee
K.J.McKee@sheffield.ac.uk
date Fri, May 9, 2008 at 12:30 PM
subject Reminiscence
mailed-by gmail.com
My name is Hugh Ashton and I operate a business called Ashton Digital Memories.
One of the things that we do is to produce client videos from old family pictures. I have found a tremendous response from seniors when viewing the videos. They seem to "come alive" and get quite animated and happy. I am sure that one them appears to
"drop off" many years and behaves more like he used to years ago.
I have done some research into Reminiscence therapy but can not determine if this is in fact what I am doing.
Can you please advise me if this is the case?
Yours truly,
Hugh Ashton
Ashton Digital Memories
416-385-2207
