At Brentwood Health Care Center, we understand that memory isn’t just about the past. It is the foundation of our identities and deeply connects us to family and friends.
For our residents who receive memory care, assisted living, and skilled nursing services, we prioritize activities designed to evoke nostalgia and positive memories—no matter the type of services they’re receiving at Brentwood.
What are Nostalgic Memories?
We all inherently know what nostalgia feels like. But how do you define it?
According to Merriam-Webster, nostalgia is “a wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for return to or of some past period or irrecoverable condition.” It evokes pleasant feelings, with a hint of sadness.
Nostalgia is often triggered by the senses – coming across a familiar sound or smell, touching a keepsake, or talking with others. So how can we harness that in a positive way through memory care activities for seniors?
Why Is Nostalgia So Powerful?
Nostalgia can be quite potent. It can promote psychological well-being, help maintain your self-identity, and create a sense of continuity. This is especially so for seniors coping with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
Here are some activities for memory care seniors and all of our residents that we incorporate into our schedule of events.
1. Storytelling
Everyone has a story to tell, no matter what they’ve done in life. Sharing your story can be both comforting and empowering.
At Brentwood, we encourage our seniors to share their stories through speaking, writing, singing, creating poetry, and more. Storytelling is a communal activity that allows them to share their memories, experiences, and life lessons. In turn, it creates a sense of belonging and helps with recall and cognitive stimulation.
2. Engaging the Senses
Nostalgic activities for seniors, like gardening and cooking, can help reconnect residents to their past. Working with their hands, while engaging their senses of smell and taste, unlocks memories and encourages reminiscence.
If we can provide ways to help our residents reconnect with specific items they used to cook or bake or tend to in their garden, it makes the experience even more powerful.
3. Music Therapy
Music has a powerful connection to memory. Take a minute to think of your most favorite song and observe how your mind and body feel thinking about it. Perhaps there’s a smile on your face or you automatically started humming.
Whether it’s a classic jazz tune, an old country ballad, or a timeless classical piece, music can evoke strong emotions and memories. Which is why it’s one of our favorite nostalgic activities for seniors. We regularly host live music and listening sessions where our residents can enjoy the music they love.
Using music as therapy not only brings joy and comfort, but it can also stimulate cognitive function, improve motor skills, and foster social interaction. And if you’re dancing along—all the better.
4. Arts & Crafts
Working on art or craft projects inspired by different styles and mediums allows our residents to tap into their creativity, stimulate cognitive abilities, and reminisce about the past. Whether it’s painting, knitting, pottery, or scrapbooking, these activities can trigger memories while facilitating a sense of accomplishment and purpose.
5. Memory Boxes
A memory box is a collection of items related to a specific time period, event, or theme. They may include items like photographs, postcards, or memorabilia and trinkets from the past. Think of it as interactive 3D scrapbooking.
Memory boxes can be a powerful tool for bringing back memories and encouraging conversation. Making a memory box is a great activity to do with your visiting family. They can bring items to place in the box, help you decorate it, and talk about what the personal pieces you place in the box mean to you and your family.
Learn More
These are just a few of the ways we can stimulate memory and encourage reminiscence for our residents. Our activity coordinators and memory care staff are constantly finding innovative ways to improve our efforts.
Providing opportunities for our seniors to talk a walk down memory lane is beneficial to them, those around them, their friends and families, and even our staff. You never know what you’ll learn about someone as they share snippets of their life.
If you’d like to learn more about Brentwood’s memory care program, contact us today.
