title: Crafts as memory triggers in reminiscence: a case study of older women with dementia.
abstract: This case study explored the benefits of crafts as memory triggers in reminiscence sessions with older women in residential care who had severe symptoms of dementia and had enjoyed crafting as a leisure activity during their lifetime. Three structured reminiscence sessions, involving different kinds of handicrafts, craft material, and craft tools, were used to trigger memories and offer multisensory stimuli. Thematization, quantification, and theory-based reasoning were employed for content analysis. Multisensory triggers activated nonverbal and verbal reactions, sustaining attention and prompting interaction and nonverbal communication. The most interesting triggers stimulated recall of forgotten, pleasing craft experiences.
authors.affiliation: 1School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 86, Savonlinna, Finland.
authors.forename: Sinikka Hannele
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Pöllänen
authors.forename: Reetta Marja
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Hirsimäki
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001155:Art Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D001288:Attention; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory; D011939:Mental Recall; D009633:Nonverbal Communication; D057181:Pleasure; D011998:Recreation / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Craft; Dementia; Memory triggers; Reminiscence; Residential care