Abstract
Objectives : The objective of this study was to examine the effects of reminiscence interventions by home care nurses on their elderly bedridden clients, with regards towards increases in self-esteem and positive self-expression. Methods : Home care nurses encouraged eighteen elderly bedridden clients to talk about their past positive experiences during their ten weeks of visits. The conversations between the elderly in the intervention group, the nurses, and those of another 16 elderly bedridden clients in the control group were recorded before and after the intervention. The frequency of both groups' verbal expressions were averaged at 10 minute intervals, then compared to verbal expressions both before and after the intervention. Both groups were measured concerning self-expressions of gratitude, their emotions, laughter, egos, pride, life views, acceptance of their present status, desires, demands, and symptoms. Nurses measured the level of self-esteem on both groups then. Results : After ten weeks, the intervention saw a significant increase in frequency for the intervention group's expression on "acceptance of their present status." The rate of improvement on subjects on the self-esteem scale, "being confident in myself with a variety of good nature" was significantly higher in the intervention group than the control group. The total score on the self-esteem scale for the intervention group increased significantly after the intervention, especially for the two items, "being confident in myself with a variety of good nature" and "being capable to do things as well as others." Conclusions : The reminiscence interventions by home care nurses for their elderly bedridden clients were effective on reacquiring positive self-recognition and the encouragement of conversations with their nurses.
