Impact of reminiscence therapy on the well-being among elderly residents at an old age homes in Chennai, India

The growing aging population presents challenges for healthcare systems, with many elderly residents in old age homes experiencing loneliness and reduced autonomy. Reminiscence therapy, which involves recalling past experiences, shows promise in improving well-being and quality of life. Therefore, it is of interest to evaluate the effectiveness of reminiscence therapy over 4 weeks at an old age home in Kodambakkam, Chennai, using a pre-test and post-test design with 50 elderly participants. Results showed significant improvements, with well-being scores increasing by 12.17% and quality of life scores rising by 15.69%. Qualitative data revealed that engagement and family dynamics contributed to positive outcomes, while feelings of loneliness remained complex. The findings suggest that reminiscence therapy can enhance psychological well-being and should be incorporated more widely in elderly care.