Elsevier

Geriatric Nursing

Volume 14, Issue 3, May–June 1993, Pages 138-141
Geriatric Nursing

The painful side of reminiscence: By using the nursing process and reminiscence techniques, nurses can help the elderly come to terms with unresolved life conflicts.

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0197-4572(06)80130-8Get rights and content

Summary

Reminiscence has been shown to be a therapeutic activity that helps people to find meaning in their memories. Through reminiscence on past life events, the older person is able to recapture both the joy and the pain of a life story that he or she has uniquely authored. By using the nursing process, the nurse may address more effectively the painful side of reminiscence and, in so doing, help others to come to terms with unresolved life conflicts.

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    MARY ELLEN LASHLEY, RN, PhD, CRNP, CS, is an assistant professor in the Department of Nursing, Towson State University, Towson, Maryland.

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