Try these tips and topics for reminiscence with people you care for, whether professionally or personally. We’re Harriet and Maura from interference-art – and below, we signpost free reminiscence resources we’ve co-created with activity providers and archivists. We also share some things we’ve learned along the way, hoping we can encourage and help you, family carers and friends to try reminiscence work.
Since 2018, we’ve been working with the National Activity Providers Association and the Sainsbury Archive to make and evaluate dementia-friendly activity resources. Most recently, over a number of months, activity providers tried out our dementia-friendly ‘Food for Talk’ resources with residents. We met online and in person to share feedback. Collaboratively we’ve created a webpage that shares our ‘Food for Talk’ reminiscence resources: a collection of print outs with prompts, an archive photo flip book, soundscapes and videos that can be used flexibly, by anyone.
WHY TRY REMINISCENCE WITH FOOD AND SHOPPING?
Reminiscence work can support wellbeing, identity, dignity and understanding. Food and supermarkets are a universal experience that can spark memories, curiosity and conversation.
Over the last few years, we’ve learned that reminiscence can be both intimidating and incredibly joyful and rewarding. NAPA members and staff – and museums and archives teams – have told us reminiscence can:
- create opportunities for discussion
- connect generations – and residents – through curious questions and sharing
- maintain a sense of identity
- help family carers and friends gain understanding of a loved one living with dementia
- help staff get to know residents and enrich wellbeing in care settings
- be a daily activity, in response to objects and things happening around us
- support people living with dementia to reduce stress and find moments of joy
HOW DOES REMINISCENCE WORK?
We tend to recall more memories from our life between ages 10-30 years: the ‘reminiscence bump’. Reminiscence activities can help access these strong, longer term memories
Reminiscence can spark joyful connection and meaningful sharing; it can also connect some of us to loss, unpleasant or painful memories. It’s ok to reorient if things aren’t working – return attention to the present moment with sensory experiences like smells, tastes, sounds. Food, supermarket and shopping archives offer lots of accessible ways to navigate our conversations.
HOW CAN I USE ARCHIVES CREATIVELY FOR REMINISCENCE?
You don’t need to be an archivist to use an archive. As artists working with communities, we have seen how powerful archive photographs, video and objects can be. Using an artist’s eye to take notice of details, and curiosity to start both group and one-to-one discussions, and can help us find connections.
Thinking about the ‘reminiscence bump’, why not try searching for photos and products from the young adulthood of the person you care for? Here are 7 tips for using the Sainsbury Archive collection online to develop dementia-friendly activities:
Tailor to different people by selecting different years when you search (select a range of years when you search online – to find photos/food/packaging from ‘their era’)
💰 Before 1971, UK prices were in £ pounds | s shillings | d pence
🖨️ Print pictures of photos and products, or use a mobile device to zoom in
📷 Avoid busy (detailed) or motion-blurred images – these can be confusing
🧒 Photos with children can help people connect with themselves or others in the past
🚙 Photos of car parks have rich visual prompts (for all genders) about different decades – like car models, buildings, fonts, signs, clothing, hairstyles
📍Look for their local store to spark local history chats (search Branches)
SIGNPOSTING: FREE RESOURCES AND YOUTUBE VIDEOS
On the Food for Talk webpage you’ll find lots of free, fun resources to support conversation, reminiscence and sensory activities. The photo flip book, videos and soundtracks were created by the Sainsbury Archive and interference-art in collaboration with NAPA members.
Use these resources in your person-centred care planning – or share to help visiting family or friends find joy in those moments where talking can be tough.
Head over to the Sainsbury Archive channel on YouTube. You’ll find a ‘Reminiscence’ playlist with a pair of videos (details below)
- ‘Searching for Memories’: a short video showing you how to use the website to search for images to inspire conversations.
- Sparking Reminiscence Chats’: shares ways to turn shopping-related topics into helpful, open questions for reminiscence.
Why not subscribe to the Sainsbury Archive channel too? You’ll also find lots more videos – from a 1972 documentary celebrating a supermarket opening, to interviews with Sainsbury’s Veteran staff and our Food for Talk playlist of playful conversation starters.
interference-art are a collective of artists and designers based in Manchester but working locally, nationally and online. We’re big believers in the power of conversation over a cuppa, and doing something creative in an inviting space.
Our practice is both person-centred and relationship-focussed. We love using art and creativity to help people be curious, and to nurture skills, confidence and wellbeing. Working with communities and cultural organisations, we manage cultural projects, set up creative spaces and make resources that can help people to feel part of something and to feel better.
Website: interference-art.co.uk
Instagram: @interferenceart
