Promote or revive your clients’ abilities to solve problems, cope more effectively, improve communication and social interactions, and build their self-esteem with the formal and informal reminiscence strategies contained in The Past in the Present. Informed by a life span development perspective, this book offers you richly productive Themes and topics Multisensory triggers that stimulate recall Intergenerational activities Formats for constructing and recording the life story Techniques to unlock therapeutic barriers With these tools, you can help your clients to Tap into their creativity Experience meaningful life review Deepen their relationships with others and value themselves Shed feelings of isolation Become a reminiscence resource for others Internationally acclaimed reminiscence expert Faith Gibson seamlessly combines theory and practical approaches to help you ensure life satisfaction and successful aging in clients at any stage in life and in any setting, whether you are working with them individually, as a couple, or in a small group. Learn how people with dementia can benefit from using reminiscence. In addition, for the first time, this book elucidates how reminiscence can be used as a dynamic tool for staff development, improving the delivery of care by and skills of direct care staff. Practical strategies are enhanced by photocopiable forms and charts that assist in accountability, dozens of case examples from diverse populations and programs in the U.S. and abroad, a 20th century time line, an international resource list, and a comprehensive reminiscence bibliography. The Past in the Present is an essential reminiscence resource for nursing staff and paraprofessionals, social workers, psychologists, occupational therapists, activity directors, recreation therapists, professionals providing training programs for volunteers and family caregivers, community groups, and school and college programs providing community service and intergenerational outreach. Instructors in gerontology and related disciplines will find this an insightful, essential addition to their curricula. "Gibson’s astute observations … allow the reader to develop confidence in and enthusiasm for reminiscence as a powerful tool for increased life satisfaction, identity enhancement, creativity development, social interaction, and community involvement." -- Aging & Society ― Reviews Published On: 2001-01-01 "This book is innovative, practical, and filled with creative strategies for reminiscence work with older persons … a helpful resource for palliative care social workers" -- Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life and Palliative Care ― Reviews Published On: 2001-01-01 “both practical enough to be a helpful resource to ‘hands-on’ practitioners … and academic enough to be an invaluable ‘one-stop’ shop for those seeking an overview of the reminiscence field of study.” -- Journal of Dementia Care ― Reviews Published On: 2001-01-01 “…a valuable contribution to understanding the processes of reminiscence and their benefits for use with older adults.” ― Reviews Published On: 2001-01-01 “wide-ranging … impeccably researched … accessible, informative and inspiring. …exactly what care workers, their managers, family members and older people themselves will want to read and read again.” ― Reviews Published On: 2001-01-01 “Faith Gibson writes with the authority and wisdom derived from long experience as a pioneer in the field.” ― Reviews Published On: 2001-01-01 Faith Gibson, M.A., is Emeritus Professor of Social Work in the University of Ulster, Northern Ireland. She holds degrees in psychology, education, and social work and is a graduate of the Universities of Sydney, Queensland, and Chicago. While a student at the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago, she received awards from the University of Chicago and the American Association of University Women as well as a Fulbright travel award. While her earlier social work career was in the child care field Faith Gibson has been interested in social work practice, policy, research, and reaching concerned with social work, social gerontology dementia care, and reminiscence theory and practice.