Reminiscence and life review in the elderly.

Reminiscence in skilled hands may be a useful adjunct when caring for older individuals. The individual may benefit psychologically from a feeling of increased self-esteem and control. Staff must clearly establish a modality in which to utilize reminiscence; goals must be set. Problems that may result from uncovering certain memories must be carefully dealt with and may even require the assistance of a skilled psychotherapist. Additional research is necessary to improve our understanding of this potentially useful interactional tool.