Browsing by Author "Salovaara, Mari"

The research assignment of this development research is to develop a handicraft-themed reminiscence box for older adults. It was ordered by Dagny Bäckström's foundation. Reminiscence box is a collection of triggers, e.g. objects, sounds and scents. It is used in reminiscence work, a method used in eldercare. Reminiscing helps to maintain personal identity, accept the past and gain a feeling of integrity. Handicraft is a fruitful topic for reminiscing, because it has been an essential part of everyday life for older adults. There is evidence that handicraft promotes well-being by supporting positive self-image and self-esteem and also encourages social interaction and helps to maintain social and family ties. Handicraft objects can remind of these positive things. These aspects form the theoretical background for this research. Developing included designing a manuscript for a reminiscence event, planning the range of triggers for the box and also collecting them. Plans were introduced to the foundation during the process and based on feedback some changes and refinement were made. The actual research material was a video recording of a real user situation, an hour long reminiscence event in an elder care home. Specific analysis covered episodes, in which both reminiscing happens and some triggers are used. Reminiscing lines of these chosen episodes were analyzed: what kind of memories were revealed and what was the trigger. The purpose of the video was also to find things that need improvements or further developing. There were many ways to reminisce handicraft. Common reminiscence is recognizing and naming the objects and their use. Personal experiences were revealed in making descriptions, heightened with movement. Also some memories of important and beloved people were revived. The triggers worked well in arousing memories, especially objects one can use or try. Reminiscence is best advanced by conversation and hearing other's memories, but also the instructor of event has influence on what kind of memories are told. Some changes were made based on video. Mostly the changes concerned about how the instructor can better support reminiscing. Asking right kind of questions is fairly important. The reminiscence event has to be organized so that everybody can equally speak and are listened and heard. It is also important to support older adults own agency in the event. This research adds knowledge of reminiscence work. This can be useful when designing new services. Concerning craft science, especially intriguing is the embodied nature of reminiscence, e.g. reminiscing with movement. This could be studied further and made use of more in the future.