Experiences determine the quality of life that one is likely to have whether socially, psychologically and physiologically. The choices that one makes at a particular time can have either a positive or negative impact in the future. Thus, the role of a life review is to allow an individual to relive some of the events that went unresolved and which could have a massive impact on one’s current life. Hence, the idea is to help an individual accept situations as they occurred and try deal with the consequences through focusing on the positive aspects of one’s life. Discussing the concept at hand, Butler (1974) explained that a life review helps adults experience successful aging. During old age, health entails social, physical as well as mental well-being. That being the case, through a life review process, practitioners are able to help individuals understand their unique stage of development targeting a more balanced attitude.
Solomon (2017) explained that when the elderly are exposed to life review group activity, they are likely to develop depression which is underdiagnosed in some situations. Therefore, borrowing from what Butler (1974) noted, life review brings about a therapeutic effect on the elderly thereby giving them alternatives to how they can deal with the effects of past events. Lamers, Bohlmeijer, Korte and Westerhof (2015) provided support stating that life review has considerable effect especially on individuals who have depressive symptoms. However, they explained that the process or therapy is most suitable for the middle-aged and older adults. The authors understand that a life review approach bases its foundation on the principle of promoting an individual’s quality of life. Through life review group activity, an individual not only engages in ordinary remembering, but understands how certain events affected his or her life. However, reminiscing of past events is a common aspect between life review and ordinary remembering.
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References
Butler, R. N. (1974). Successful aging and the role of the life review. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society,22 (12), 529-535. doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.1974.tb04823.x
Lamers, S. M., Bohlmeijer, E. T., Korte, J., & Westerhof, G. J. (2014). The efficacy of life-review as online-guided self-help for adults: A randomized trial. The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences,70 (1), 24-34. doi:10.1093/geronb/gbu030
Solomon, P. (2017). Life review work. Self & Society,45 (2), 160-171. doi:10.1080/03060497.2017.1334988
