Implications for practice and research

• Understanding reminiscence therapy from the perspectives of people with dementia can assist nurses to deliver reminiscence sessions which reduce negative emotions and improve self-esteem.

• The inclusion of patient perspectives can enhance further theoretical development of a middle-range theory relating to reminiscence therapy in dementia care.

• Research methods should be inclusive in their design so as not to exclude people in the later stages of dementia.

Context

Reminiscence is a therapeutic intervention used to support people with dementia. It involves sharing life experiences, memories and stories from the past. While it is suggested that people with dementia can benefit from the principles of reminiscence, there is a lack of supporting evidence from the perspectives of people with the disease. This study presents a metasynthesis of qualitative …