A Pre-Experimental Study on the Effectiveness of Reminiscence Therapy in Improving the Quality of Life Among Elderly People Residing in Old Age Homes in Chennai

Abstract

Aim: To assess the effectiveness of reminiscence therapy as an intervention for improving the overall quality of life of elderly residents in selected old age homes in Chennai

Background: Population ageing has become a major public health concern due to the increasing life expectancy observed worldwide. Older adults frequently experience physical limitations, chronic illnesses, emotional distress, social isolation, and reduced life satisfaction, all of which can negatively influence their quality of life. Reminiscence therapy is a structured psychosocial intervention that encourages older adults to recall and discuss meaningful life experiences. This approach has been shown to improve emotional well-being, strengthen self-esteem, enhance social interaction, and promote a more positive outlook on life. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of reminiscence therapy on enhancing overall well-being and quality of life among the older residents of old age care settings in Chennai.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the quality of life of elderly participants before the administration of reminiscence therapy, evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention by comparing pre-test and post-test quality-of-life scores, determine the post-intervention level of quality of life, and examine the association between post-test quality-of-life scores and selected demographic variables.

Methods: A quantitative research approach with a pre-experimental one-group pre-test-post-test design was adopted for this study. Sixty elderly residents from selected old age homes in Chennai were recruited using purposive sampling. Baseline quality of life was assessed using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire before the intervention. Following the administration of reminiscence therapy, the same instrument was used to measure post-test quality-of-life scores. The collected data were analyzed using appropriate descriptive and inferential statistical methods.

Results: The findings demonstrated a marked improvement in the quality-of-life following reminiscence therapy. In the post-test assessment, 50% of the participants reported a very good quality of life, while 33% had a good quality of life. Moderate and poor quality of life were observed among 12% and 5% of the participants, respectively, whereas none reported a very poor quality of life. The mean post-test score (68.76) was considerably higher than the mean pre-test score (45.32). The obtained t value of 8.92 was statistically significant at the 0.05 level, indicating that reminiscence therapy produced a significant improvement in participants' quality of life.

Conclusion: The findings of the present study indicate that reminiscence therapy is an effective non-pharmacological intervention for improving the quality of life among elderly individuals residing in old age homes. The intervention contributed to better emotional well-being, enhanced life satisfaction, and an overall improvement in quality-of-life scores. These results support the incorporation of reminiscence therapy into routine nursing care for older adults as a simple, cost-effective, and practical strategy for promoting healthy and active ageing.