Reminiscence Activities: Memory Boxes, Life Stories and Photos

Reminiscence simply means enjoying the past together. For many people living with dementia, memories from decades ago stay clearer than what happened this morning. Photos, familiar objects, music and stories can open those memories up and give you something warm to share. The one rule: it is a conversation, never a quiz.

What is reminiscence, and how is it different from quizzing?

Reminiscence is sharing memories through photos, objects, music or video, at the person’s own pace. The NHS describes it as sharing past experiences and stories with the help of photos, objects, videos or music, in a book or on a tablet. Quizzing is different: it asks the person to produce a right answer, and that can bring embarrassment instead of enjoyment.

The National Institute on Aging lists asking a person whether they remember something or someone as something to avoid. The Family Caregiver Alliance suggests avoiding questions that rely on short-term memory and talking about the more distant past instead.

How do you talk about photos without quizzing?

Lead with what you see, then leave room for the person to add something if they wish.

1. Sit side by side. Hold the album between you so you are looking together, not testing across a table.
2. Choose a few photos. Five good photos are better than a whole box. Large, clear prints work best.
3. Name people yourself. “Here’s you and Dad on your wedding day” removes the pressure.
4. Comment on details. Clothes, cars, food, weather, faces. “What a car. It looks so shiny.”
5. Invite, do not demand. “Tell me about…” or “What do you notice?” Silence is fine.
6. Follow their lead. If they talk about something else entirely, go with it.
7. Stop while it is pleasant. Close the album before tiredness sets in.

For ready-made picture prompts, try conversation cards. To turn your own family photos into a gentle matching game, try photo pairs; the photos you choose stay in your browser.

How do you make a memory box?

A memory box is a container of objects from the person’s life to handle and talk about.

1. Pick a sturdy box that is easy to open, such as a shoebox, hat box or small wooden chest.
2. Choose a theme or mix. Work, a hobby, a place, a decade, or a little of everything.
3. Gather safe objects. Five to ten items is plenty to start.
4. Use copies of precious things. Copy irreplaceable photos and documents and keep the originals safe.
5. Take items out one at a time. Hand one over, say something about it, and see where the talk goes.

Ideas to include:

• Work: a name badge, a small tool, a uniform patch, a ledger, a nurse’s pin, a cookbook from a diner.
• Home: a recipe card in their handwriting, a tea towel, a favorite scarf or tie.
• Hobbies: a fishing lure without the hook, a baseball, a ball of yarn, a seed packet.
• Places: postcards, maps, a tourist souvenir, a hometown newspaper clipping.
• Family: copies of photos, a child’s drawing, a wedding invitation.

Leave out sharp objects, small things that could be swallowed, and anything that might bring painful memories unless you know it is welcome.

How do you make a life-story book?

A life-story book is a simple album of photos and short captions about the person’s life. It is something to look at together, and it helps visitors and care staff see the whole person.

1. Choose a format. A binder with sheet protectors, a printed photo book, or a slideshow on a tablet.
2. Plan a few sections. Childhood, school, work, family, places lived, faith, hobbies, favorite foods and music.
3. Add one or two photos per page with a short, large-print caption: “Mary, age 22, starting work at the bank.”
4. Include likes and routines. “Takes coffee with milk. Loves Sunday hymns. Dislikes loud TV.” This helps anyone caring for them.
5. Involve the person as much as they want, choosing photos, telling stories or just watching it come together.
6. Keep adding. It does not need to be finished to be useful.

More reminiscence ideas

• Play music from their youth and talk about where it takes them. See music activities.
• Watch home movies or TV shows from their favorite decades.
• Cook a childhood dish and let the smells lead the conversation.
• Look at a map of their hometown and trace familiar streets.
• Handle old catalogs or magazines and talk about prices, fashions and cars.
• Record their stories on a phone, with their permission, for the family.
• Share during calls. Hold up one photo during a video call; see phone and video calls.
• Bring a photo or object when you visit. It gives the visit an easy focus; see visiting.

What if a memory is painful?

Some memories bring grief, regret or fear. If the person becomes upset, stop, comfort them and gently change the subject or activity. Do not argue about what happened. The Family Caregiver Alliance advises against trying to convince a person they are wrong and suggests responding to the feelings they show, which are real. If they talk about someone who has died as if they were alive, respond to the feeling: “You miss her. Tell me about her.”

What does the research say?

A Cochrane review of reminiscence, covering 22 trials and 1,972 people, found that effects were inconsistent, small and varied by setting and format. It found no evidence of harm to people with dementia. We suggest reminiscence because it can make for warm, meaningful time together, not as a treatment. For more on easy conversation, see communication tips.