Life reminiscence, life review and sharing family histories have been shown to offer cognitive, emotional, and social benefits for seniors, particularly those in memory care.
GEMS has worked with many elders – individually and in organized spaces – and consistently finds that the experience for of recounting life stories, reminiscing about past events and reflecting back on their lives is valuable in many ways.
Sharing and reflecting on life stories helps stimulate memory, boost self-esteem, reduce feelings of isolation, and create a sense of community among seniors. Recording these storytelling sessions preserves valuable personal histories for future generations.
GEMS works with elders in a number of ways:
Individuals
Recording stories of individual members of a family. These recordings can be saved as full-length oral histories or edited into audiobooks, family podcasts, sharable segments and more.
Group Storytelling
Group storytelling in memory care facilities as one-time events or as a series. Storytelling spaces might have a theme like food or childhood games. Residents gather to share stories in a facilitated, and potentially recorded, space. Recordings can be edited into podcasts or other audio stories.
Intergenerational
Intergenerational pairs or groups in a family or community gather for facilitated storytelling. Recordings can be edited into podcasts or other audio stories.
Research & Articles
Several studies have demonstrated the positive impact of reminiscence therapy on cognitive functions and emotional wellbeing in seniors, particularly those with dementia or other memory-related conditions.
gemsoralhistories.com 