Extending the Use of Loans
Guidelines for Reminiscence Sessions
Before each session
- Decide what subjects to discuss and what triggers can be used.
- Feel free to change themes during a discussion.
Spatial arrangements
- Encourage participants to sit in a group.
- Sitting around a big table can make it difficult for those furthest away to see and hear what is going on.
Starting each session
- Start with tea and coffee to create a sense of community and help the group to relax.
Triggers to start a discussion
- Anything that arouses different thoughts and memories. It could be old photographs or particular objects.
- The triggers must be well known by the participants in order to awaken their interest.
- Local and cultural differences must be taken into consideration.
During Discussions
- Use questions that open out the conversation and encourage the person to give more information, for example: “Can you say more about that?”, “In what way?”, “Can you give me an example?”.
- Avoid too many “Why?” questions.
- Avoid asking a question and then answering it yourself.
- Keep the questions simple and don’t ask multiple questions.
- Avoid closed questions – those where it is likely the reply will be a brief yes or no answer.
Length of discussions
- Try not to let the session last more than one hour.
Use the following PDF notes to help facilitate discussion:
- Work (Acrobat PDF 18 KB)
- Shopping & Food (Acrobat PDF 18 KB)
- Local Photos (Acrobat PDF 18 KB)
- House & Home (Acrobat PDF 19 KB)
National Museums Wales