ARTICLES / General /
Linking the Past to the Present.../
Other ArticlesBy
Kristine Dwyer, Staff Writer
“We can use reminiscence as a way to remind
people of past feelings of self-esteem,
confidence and competence. By valuing their
memories from the past, we show them that they
are valued in the present.” Pam Schweitzer, UK
Reminiscence and the End of Life:
Those who face life-threatening illnesses often
feel an increased need to explore the meaning of
their lives and identify what has been important.
Psychologist Erik Erikson suggested that as we
approach the end of our days, we need to bring
together the strands of our lives. Most people hope
to die in a way that is consistent with how they
have lived.
As Victor Frankl said, “All of us need to leave
knowing the things we’ve done, the things we’ve
loved, the things we will leave behind with meaning,
and the things we’ve believed in.”
Hospice programs, along with family caregivers,
play a vital role in this process by reminding the
dying person of the specific good they have done in
their lives or recalling the contributions they have
made to the family and to society. In the end, the
most important thing we need when we die is to have
a significant life story. This can be accomplished
through journaling, tape recording, celebrating a
person’s life prior to death or writing an ethical
will, which includes lessons learned in life and the
legacy a person wishes to leave behind.
As Henry David Thoreau once said, “The mass of
men live lives of quiet desperation.” Reminiscence
allows ones thoughts and memories to be stimulated
and gives a sense of continuity to the “remembered
life.” In the end, this becomes a fulfilling
experience and strengthens relationships, especially
between caregivers and care receivers. Reviewing our
lives and telling our stories leaves us with a sense
of contentment with life and truly links our past to
the present and one generation to another.
Printable Version
