Evaluation of Reminiscence Therapy on Language Outcomes Among People With Dementia

Purpose: As people with dementia (PWD) advance in age and disease progression, maintaining cognitive and language skills is essential for overall quality of life. Reminiscence therapy (RT), a promising nonpharmacological intervention, has been shown to maintain and/or improve cognition, agitation, and overall quality of life for PWD. However, preserving language skills, including the ability to effectively make needs and wants known and engage meaningfully in conversations, is also essential for quality of life. There is a paucity of research addressing language skills within RT intervention for PWD. Method: This study included 11 individuals with a diagnosis of dementia who reside in a memory care facility. Participants engaged in two RT treatment cycles (each 8 weeks long and 45 min per session). Measures of cognition (Montreal Cognitive Assessment [MoCA]) and language (Functional Linguistic Communication Inventory–Second Edition [FLCI-2] and discourse questions analyzed using correct information unit [CIU] procedures) were completed at the beginning and end of both RT treatment cycles. Results: There was a significant correlation in MoCA and FLCI-2 measures but no significant correlation between the language measures (CIUs, FLCI-2, or word count). Additionally, as preservation of language skills is imperative, 82% of participants either improved or maintained (within 5 points) FLCI-2 scores and CIU counts (within five CIUs) during intervention. Conclusion: Results from this study suggest that RT could influence the maintenance of language skills in PWD, therefore preserving overall quality of life.