Remembering past may be good for health
By Michael Brooks
The Independent Collegian
Published: Thursday, January 29, 2004
Media Credit: Photo courtesty of Michael Brooks
(From left) Thomas Tatchell and Timothy Jordan, professors of public
health and rehabilitation and Nick Martin, a graduate student,
compiled the research saying Transmissive Reminiscence Therapy may
lead to better health for senior citizens.
UT researchers have completed a study suggesting a link between reminiscing about the "good old days" and the overall well-being of senior adults.
Professors Timothy Jordan and Thomas Tatchell recently published the results of their study that paired student facilitators with senior adults from Toledo-area nursing homes. Students prompted the nursing home residents to narrate events from their pasts, something known as Transmissive Reminiscence Therapy. The students also examined the overall health of the seniors before and after the study.
The study found nursing home residents showed "significant improvements in general health, social functioning, energy level and general well-being." No improvements were found in nursing home residents who did not receive the TRT. These seniors experienced a decrease in general health and an increase in bodily pain during the study.
Jordan believes there are significant societal benefits associated with the use of TRT as a tool in the care of institutionalized seniors.
"We propose that TRT may prove to be a valuable, simple, safe, inexpensive and easily replicable therapeutic modality for this growing population," he said.
Tatchell indicated the seniors were not the only ones benefiting from the study.
"Many of our student volunteers reported that they were pleasantly surprised at the interactions with the nursing home residents," Tatchell said. "Nearly 60 percent of the volunteers indicated that they were interested in maintaining friendship with their new friends."
Jordan agreed and said, "Contrary to popular misconceptions, students found that the seniors were not drooling, grouchy and feeble-minded," he said. "On the contrary, the residents were eager to pass along the wisdom that they have acquired, and happy to counsel the students on life issues."
Student volunteers were also surprised at the level of interest seniors showed in love relationships. Jordan said students found that their senior counterparts offered good advice on improving relationships, and that preconceived notions of older adults being "old-fashioned" were untrue.
Jordan urges students to become more involved in the lives of the elderly.
"Nursing homes are very receptive to student volunteers," he said. "The activities director at local institutions are always looking for young people who are willing to share an hour or two per week with residents."