Enhancement of quality of life in older people through positive reminiscence intervention: a pilot study

Abstract

Older age is associated with a higher prevalence of cognitive and affective decline than in the younger population. For this reason, considering the increasing population aging, and with the continuous growth of this demographic, it is necessary to consider better types of interventions to prevent such decline from manifesting. This study measures the effectiveness of the “Positive reminiscence program” (REMPOS), a non-pharmacological therapy that increases life quality in older people, with a pre-post randomized design with control group in three types of aging: healthy aging (n= 24), mild cognitive impairment (n= 22) and Alzheimer’s Disease (n= 21). The results of the experimental groups revealed higher cognitive levels, lower depressive symptoms, higher specific positive memories recall, and higher life satisfaction after intervention. This study extends the evidence of effectiveness of positive reminiscence interventions for older adults in other cultural backgrounds and types of aging