Reminiscing Activities and questions for seniors

Reminiscing is Storytelling

Reminiscing is storytelling at its best! Real life stories come back to life when sharing them with someone. Reminiscing is the act of remembering, sharing, and listening. It allows us to reflect on experiences and allows us to give the gift of ourselves to others. It allows us to know someone better and to see life through their eyes. Truly, we all reminisce whether we’re 5 or 95!

Whether you’re a family caregiver, activity professional, nursing home staff member, or simply spending time with an older family member or friend, reminiscing can be an easy and meaningful activity to enjoy together.

What are Reminiscing Activities?

Reminiscing activities are simple activities that encourage an older adult to remember and talk about experiences from their past. They can be as simple as looking through an old photo album or listening to a favorite song. You might also use familiar objects, recipes, magazines, decorations, games, or questions to start a conversation. The wonderful thing about reminiscing is that you don’t need expensive supplies or a complicated activity plan. A memory can begin with something as simple as: “Do you remember…?”

Why is Reminiscing Meaningful for Seniors?

A collection of memories leads to connections in life.

Through my dad’s collection of stories about his service in World War II, I will forever be connected to his personal memories and history of that time period. Through my mom’s telling of family life during the depression, I know and understand the hardships their family struggled with. From my parent’s stories, I feel a connection to not only that time in their life, but a closer connection to them.

Reminiscing is a great family activity. It leads us to learn about our heritage, traditions, and genealogy. Those stories became part of our family’s history. As a family member, reminiscing is as enjoyable to me as the one telling the story!

Reminiscing can also give older adults an opportunity to share experiences, accomplishments, traditions, and stories that might otherwise be forgotten. It can be especially meaningful when family members take the time to listen.

Reminiscing can lead to new friendships and increases socialization.

Through the telling of stories, we sometimes find others who have lived through our struggles, our good times, events, and changing times. This can lead to friendship and increased socialization. Have your ever heard the older generation talking about how much gas prices have gone up over the years or talk about how we got along just fine without cellphones? Many times, we talk about where we were when John F. Kennedy was assassinated or about the great comedians of the past like Bob Hope and Red Skelton.

Remembering makes us think…

and is a great intellectual activity. Those persons with cognitive loss may remember things from long ago far easier than remembering something done yesterday.

Reminiscing can bring us self-worth.

Reminiscing with others allows us to review our life histories and remember our accomplishments. This can lead to feelings of self-worth and the feeling of a life well lived.

Be aware however that reminiscing can also stir emotions. A song might make us miss someone or talking about an event might make us sad. On the flip side listening to an” old radio show” might leave us chuckling and looking at old school pictures of ourselves might make us laugh.

21 Easy Reminiscing Activities for Seniors

Questions, discussions, things, decorations, holidays, etc… may all spark a memory. You don’t need a formal activity session to reminisce. It can be done anywhere, anytime. Try one of these simple ideas the next time you’re spending time with an older adult.

Look Through Old Scrapbooks and Photographs

Bring out a scrapbook, photo album or a few favorite photographs. Ask about the people, places, and events in the pictures. My mom has an old scrapbook from her childhood that she kept old cards and Valentines in which is fun to look at and talk about.

Listen to Favorite Music

Why is this music their favorite? Ask questions about the music, the song, and why it captures their heart.

Reminisce About School Days

Talk about teachers, classmates and friends, recess, school plays, sports, school lunches, and favorite subjects.

Reminisce About Childhood Homes

What was their childhood home like? Who were their neighbors? Did their friends live nearby? Ask questions, take a drive past their home, or search on google earth for their residence.

Talk About and Share Traditional Family Recipes

Ask about foods their mother or grandmother made. If appropriate, make a favorite recipe together. Create a family recipe book for Christmas or for a new bride in the family.

Talk About Jobs or Careers

Ask about their first job, what they earned, what they wore to work, and what they liked or disliked about it.

Look at Old Advertisements

Vintage advertisements can be wonderful conversation starters. Talk about products, prices, stores, and things they remember buying.

Reminisce About the Holidays

Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, and other holidays are all filled with memories waiting to be shared. And there are sure to be pictures to look at!

Reminisce About Celebrations and Special Occasions

Celebrations like weddings, birthdays, and anniversaries can hold special memories. Reminisce through conversations, photographs, and videos.

Reminiscing with Maps

Find a map of the town, state, or country where the person grew up. Ask them to point out places they remember. Also talk about people and places they’ve visited.

Reminisce About Cars

Ask about the first car they drove or remember riding in. What did it look like? Where did the family go in it? Do they have pictures? Can you find a picture of the car on the internet?

Reminisce About Vacations

Ask about favorite family trips, summer vacations, camping trips, road trips, or special destinations. Do they have mementos or pictures from favorite vacations to look at?

Look at Old but Familiar Household Items

Use an old-fashioned kitchen tool, sewing item, household object, furniture, or other familiar item as a conversation starter.

Reminisce About Fashion

Look at pictures of clothing from different decades and ask what they remember wearing for school, work, dances, or special occasions.

Reminisce About Past and Present Favorite Hobbies

Ask about their favorite hobbies and why they like it. What did they do? Did they create things? Are there photographs of them doing their hobby or something that they created?

Talk About Radio and Television

Ask about favorite radio programs, television shows, comedians, news programs, or family television routines. Who were their favorite singers, actors, and actresses? Share pictures of those shows or people.

Talk About Family Traditions

Ask about traditions that were passed down through the family. Which traditions do they still remember? This is especially special during the holiday season.

Create a Memory Box Together

Place several familiar objects in a box. Invite the person to choose an item and talk about anything it reminds them of. Change up the box occasionally.

Reminisce About the Seasons

The seasons bring many memories especially the activities and weather associated with each one.

Take a Scenic Drive

If appropriate and enjoyable, take a drive through an area that may bring back familiar memories. Drive around during special seasons of the year, such as Fall, to see the changing leaves, or in Springtime to see the blooming trees and flowers.

Make a Family Legacy Journal

Write down or record family stories with permission. Over time, these memories can become a special story collection for children and grandchildren.

Reminiscing Questions for Seniors

Here are some good conversation starters:

What was your childhood home like?
What did you enjoy doing after school?
Who was your favorite teacher?
What games did you play as a child?
What did you usually have for lunch at school?
What was your first job?
What was your favorite family meal?
What was your favorite holiday?
Did your family have any special traditions?
What was your favorite television show?
What kind of music did you enjoy?
Did you ever go dancing?
What was your first car like?
Where did your family go on vacation?
What did you do for fun when you were young?
What was your neighborhood like?
Who was your best friend growing up?
What household chores did you have?
What did you enjoy doing on weekends?
What is a family story you never want forgotten?

Reminiscing Activities for Nursing Homes and Assisted Living

Reminiscing can work especially well as a group activity because one person’s memory can spark a memory in someone else.

Try creating themed discussion groups such as:

School Days
Favorite Recipes
First Jobs
Childhood Games
Old-Time Radio
Favorite Songs
Family Traditions
Summer Vacations
Holiday Memories
Hometown Memories
Cars We Remember
Growing Up in the 1940’s 50’s, 60’s, etc.

For a group activity, choose one topic and prepare several photographs, objects, or other sensory objects, as well as questions. You don’t have to get through every question or object. Just go where the conversation takes you.

Simple Reminiscing Ideas for People with Memory Loss

Keep activities simple, offer plenty of time to respond, and don’t worry about details. Keep the conversations interesting by offering things they are familiar with or interested in. Go with the flow.

Some simple choices include:

Looking at family photographs
Listening to familiar music
Holding familiar household objects
Looking through picture books or magazines
Smelling familiar foods or herbs
Talking about favorite hobbies
Looking at pictures of familiar places
Sorting familiar objects
Sharing a favorite family recipe

Let the Stories Lead the Way

One of the best things about reminiscing is that you never know where a story will take you.

A question about school might lead to a story about a best friend. A discussion about a favorite recipe might lead to memories of a grandmother. A photograph might open the door to a story you’ve never heard before.

Listen carefully. Ask a gentle follow-up question when appropriate. And don’t be afraid of a little silence while someone gathers their thoughts.

Sometimes the most meaningful part of reminiscing isn’t the activity itself.

It’s simply taking the time to listen.

Looking for Ready-to-Use Printable Activities?

If you’re planning activities for older adults, caregivers, family gatherings, nursing homes, or assisted living communities, printable games and conversation activities can make preparation easier.

Visit the Caregivers Workshop on Etsy for ready-to-use printable activities.

More Reminiscing Activities and Resources

Looking for more specific reminiscing ideas? Explore these related Reminiscing Activities:

Other Reminiscing Resources

How to Find a Story-Guest post

Reminiscing is Storytelling

What are Reminiscing Activities?

Why is Reminiscing Meaningful for Seniors?

21 Easy Reminiscing Activities for Seniors

Look Through Old Scrapbooks and Photographs

Listen to Favorite Music

Reminisce About School Days

Reminisce About Childhood Homes

Talk About and Share Traditional Family Recipes

Talk About Jobs or Careers

Look at Old Advertisements

Reminisce About the Holidays

Reminisce About Celebrations and Special Occasions

Reminiscing with Maps

Reminisce About Cars

Reminisce About Vacations

Look at Old but Familiar Household Items

Reminisce About Fashion

Reminisce About Past and Present Favorite Hobbies

Talk About Radio and Television

Talk About Family Traditions

Create a Memory Box Together

Reminisce About the Seasons

Take a Scenic Drive

Make a Family Legacy Journal

Reminiscing Questions for Seniors

Reminiscing Activities for Nursing Homes and Assisted Living

Simple Reminiscing Ideas for People with Memory Loss

Let the Stories Lead the Way

Looking for Ready-to-Use Printable Activities?

More Reminiscing Activities and Resources

Other Reminiscing Resources

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