If you have known someone who has Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia, you would agree that these individuals may have no memory of what they had for breakfast a little later in the day but can recall a childhood memory like it happened yesterday.

Nostalgia or reminiscence becomes a large part of their hippocampus activity. Often, individuals with dementia are stuck in the past, unable to have coherent conversations with people in the present, leading to feelings of isolation and depression. Reminiscence therapy is a fantastic tool for families and caregivers to help such individuals find joy, dignity, and relevance.

A colleague shared stories about how her grandmother would suddenly look distant and uninterested in the middle of a conversation - she would have forgotten the context or relevant details and hence couldn't comprehend or contribute. Dementia is a slow and progressive condition that affects memory, communication, and problem-solving skills. With increasing life expectancy, forms of dementia have become more prevalent in older adults. While there is no cure, we can use several methods to make life less confusing and more meaningful for those with dementia.

A 70-year-old gentleman with Alzheimer's loved to talk about his deceased brother (as if he were still alive) and their childhood mischievous pranks. They had shared a great deal, and their relationship had become an indelible part of this gentleman. His face always lit up with such distant memories when he looked at their old photograph or a common relative brought up the memory - even though the stories themselves were disjointed and from different times in his past.

Reminiscence therapy uses the senses - touch, sight, sound, taste, and smell - to create positive engagement techniques. A favourite song, food, photograph, or personal belongings are all excellent ways to kindle stories from the past.

The idea is not to correct the details of their stories or to steer a conversation in a specific direction. Fond memories trigger the feeling of happiness. When individuals with dementia are encouraged to share their thoughts without interruption or asked to corroborate facts, it lets them feel included and their feelings validated. In the early stages of the diagnosis, patients are aware of their condition and can feel embarrassed about being asked to explain when facts may not add up. They could clam up and refuse social interactions, which can further exacerbate their condition.

Families, caregivers, or senior living centres can curate interesting games centred around such themes to allow individuals to communicate using personal stories as a tool. Here are a few ideas:

Show and tell: Have members sit around in a circle with a favourite item. It could be a kitchen tool, an old saree, a diary, a photograph - anything. Ask them to share what the item means to them. It's not always about an old memory resurfacing. The activity gives them something to centre their thoughts and communicate.

Movies and music: Who doesn't love to discuss movie stars or music? A great way to spark conversations is to play a song or movie from their younger days and allow casual discussion around it. A family doctor recalls having a 90-year-old patient who watched her favourite movie on a loop. Her family members would take turns to sit with her and watch. The characters and the story made her feel good and perhaps younger and able.

Once upon a profession: Tools seniors worked with may have become antiquated or obsolete today, but in their eyes, those carry immense value and can trigger several memories. A stone mill, a typewriter, a betel-nut cracker, and many such treasures from the past are a gateway to sharing experiences.

A walk down memory lane: Recreating familiar settings will soothe individuals with dementia. If possible, the family or caregiver can take them to the place of their birth or growing up years or set up meetings with siblings. Children can be encouraged to team up with their grandparents and create a personal journal that talks about the grandparents' favourite activity, game, book, or food as a child. They could do the activity together - by playing the game, reading the same book or cooking the dish.