What is life review?
Life review is a process of reflecting on and making sense of one’s life experiences. It can be done individually or in a group, and can be guided by a facilitator or undertaken independently. Life review can help older adults to:
- Understand their life story in a new and deeper way
- Appreciate their strengths and accomplishments
- Come to terms with difficult experiences
- Find meaning and purpose in their lives
- Prepare for death
Why is life review important for older adults?
As people age, they naturally begin to reflect on their lives. Life review can help older adults to process their life experiences, find meaning and purpose in their lives, and prepare for death. Life review can also be beneficial for older adults who are facing challenges such as dementia, end-of-life care, or trauma.
How can nurses facilitate life review?
Nurses can play an important role in facilitating life review for older adults in a variety of settings. Nurses can:
- Create a safe and supportive environment where older adults feel comfortable sharing their stories
- Ask open-ended questions to encourage reflection
- Help older adults to identify and appreciate their strengths and accomplishments
- Support older adults in processing difficult emotions
- Celebrate older adults’ lives
Benefits of life review
Life review has been shown to have a number of benefits for older adults, including:
- Improved self-esteem and sense of purpose
- Reduced anxiety and depression
- Increased life satisfaction
- Improved relationships with others
- Better coping with loss and grief
- Enhanced preparation for death
Types of life review
There are a variety of different types of life review. Some of the most common include:
- Individual life review: This is a one-on-one process between an older adult and a facilitator. The facilitator helps the older adult to reflect on their life experiences and to make sense of their life story.
- Group life review: This is a life review process that is conducted with a group of older adults. The group provides support and encouragement as each older adult shares their story.
- Guided life review: This is a type of life review that is led by a facilitator. The facilitator provides prompts and questions to help the older adult reflect on their life experiences.
- Life story writing: This is a type of life review that involves writing down one’s life story. This can be done for oneself, for family and friends, or for the general public.
- Life legacy projects: These are projects that are designed to leave a legacy for future generations. Examples of life legacy projects include creating a photo album, writing a memoir, or recording one’s oral history.
How to facilitate life review
Here are some tips for facilitating life review:
- Create a safe and supportive environment. This means letting the person know that they are free to share their thoughts and feelings without judgment.
- Ask open-ended questions. This will encourage the person to reflect on their life experiences in their own way.
- Be a good listener. Pay attention to what the person is saying and ask clarifying questions when needed.
- Help the person to identify and appreciate their strengths and accomplishments. This can help to boost the person’s self-esteem and sense of purpose.
- Support the person in processing difficult emotions. It is important to allow the person to express their emotions without judgment.
- Celebrate the person’s life. Let the person know that their life has been meaningful and that they have made a difference in the world.
Life review for specific populations
Life review can be beneficial for older adults from all walks of life. However, there are some specific populations that may benefit even more from life review, such as:
- Older adults with dementia: Life review can help older adults with dementia to stay connected to their past and to find meaning in their lives.
- Older adults facing end-of-life care: Life review can help older adults who are facing end-of-life care to come to terms with their mortality and to prepare for death.
- Older adults who have experienced trauma or loss: Life review can help older adults who have experienced trauma or loss to process their experiences and to find healing.
- Older adults from diverse cultural backgrounds: Life review can help older adults from diverse cultural backgrounds to share their stories and to connect with others from their culture.
Life Review for Specific Populations
Nurses can play an important role in facilitating life review for older adults from all walks of life. However, there are some specific populations that may benefit even more from life review, such as:
Older adults with dementia:
- Life review can help older adults with dementia to stay connected to their past and to find meaning in their lives.
- Nurses can facilitate life review for older adults with dementia by using simple prompts and questions, and by focusing on the person’s positive memories.
- Nurses can also involve the person’s family and friends in the life review process, as they can help to provide the person with additional cues and support.
Older adults facing end-of-life care:
- Life review can help older adults who are facing end-of-life care to come to terms with their mortality and to prepare for death.
- Nurses can facilitate life review for older adults facing end-of-life care by creating a safe and supportive environment where the person can share their thoughts and feelings about death and dying.
- Nurses can also help the person to identify their unfinished business and to make plans for the end of their life.
Older adults who have experienced trauma or loss:
- Life review can help older adults who have experienced trauma or loss to process their experiences and to find healing.
- Nurses can facilitate life review for older adults who have experienced trauma or loss by creating a trauma-informed environment and by using gentle and supportive language.
- Nurses can also help the person to identify their coping mechanisms and to develop new coping skills.
Older adults from diverse cultural backgrounds:
- Life review can help older adults from diverse cultural backgrounds to share their stories and to connect with others from their culture.
- Nurses can facilitate life review for older adults from diverse cultural backgrounds by being respectful of the person’s culture and by using culturally sensitive language and approaches.
- Nurses can also involve the person’s family and friends in the life review process, as they can help to provide the person with additional cues and support.
FAQs
Q: What is the difference between life review and reminiscence?
A: Life review is a more intentional and purposeful process than reminiscence. Life review involves reflecting on one’s life experiences in order to make sense of them and to find meaning and purpose in one’s life. Reminiscence, on the other hand, is often more spontaneous and less reflective.
Q: How can I help my family member or friend with life review?
A: There are a number of ways that you can help your family member or friend with life review. You can:
- Create a safe and supportive environment where they feel comfortable sharing their stories.
- Ask open-ended questions to encourage reflection.
- Listen to them without judgment.
- Help them to identify and appreciate their strengths and accomplishments.
- Support them in processing difficult emotions.
- Celebrate their life.
You can also help your family member or friend to find resources for life review, such as books, websites, and support groups.
Q: What are some resources for life review?
A: There are a number of resources available for life review. Here are a few examples:
- Books:
- The Life Review Workbook: A Step-by-Step Guide for Creating a Meaningful Life Story
- Life Review: A Practical Guide to Rediscovering the Meaning and Purpose of Your Life
- The Art of Reminiscence and Life Review: How to Use the Past to Enrich the Present and Prepare for the Future
- Websites:
- The Life Review Center
- The National Center on Elder Abuse
- The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
- Support groups:
- Many hospitals, nursing homes, and community centers offer life review support groups. You can also find online life review support groups.
Conclusion
Life review is a valuable intervention that can help older adults to live more fulfilling and meaningful lives. Nurses can play an important role in facilitating life review for older adults from all walks of life.
