Enhancing Personal Satisfaction Through Reminiscence Therapy at Community LIFE

An Occupational Therapy-Inspired Program for Older Adults – Connor Glivic

Community LIFE recently piloted a creative and evidence-based reminiscence therapy program designed to enhance personal satisfaction and promote mental well-being among its participants. The project was led by Connor Glivic, Chatham University OTD Student, Class of 2025, as part of an occupational therapy capstone experience. The goal was to explore an important question: Does participating in a reminiscence program increase an individual’s personal satisfaction when utilizing an organized community day program?

Older adults frequently experience mental health challenges such as depression and anxiety, which can negatively impact their ability to perform daily activities like personal hygiene, dressing, and social engagement. This project aimed to address those challenges by offering participants a meaningful, fun, and interactive way to reflect on their lives while fostering social connections—an essential factor in supporting mental well-being.

The two-week program was structured around the Kawa Model, an occupational therapy framework that uses the metaphor of a river to represent one’s life journey. In this model, the riverbanks symbolize the social and physical environments, rocks represent life’s obstacles, and driftwood stands for personal assets and liabilities that affect the river’s flow.

During week one, participants attended guided sessions where they created their own Kawa River models. Using paper and markers, they visualized the supports and barriers they’ve encountered throughout their lives. This reflective exercise provided a safe space for storytelling, personal insight, and connection with peers.

In week two, participants used their Kawa models as inspiration to gather images representing meaningful memories, important relationships, and sources of support throughout their lives. They then created personal collages or placemats—a creative and tangible representation of their unique life journeys. These completed projects served as lasting reminders of their resilience and the people and experiences that shaped them.

The program was designed to be flexible and inclusive, with participants only needing to attend one session per week to engage fully. By combining creative expression with evidence-based therapeutic principles, this program aligned with the occupational therapy scope of practice and supported the mental health and emotional well-being of Community LIFE participants.

The project demonstrated how reminiscence therapy can promote personal satisfaction and meaningful engagement in community day programs. By reflecting on their past and celebrating their stories, participants gained not only a sense of pride but also strengthened social connections—an essential component of healthy aging.