Description

Option C: Life Review Assignment 

A life review is a method used to encourage older people to examine and evaluate their lives.  Numerous psychosocial and cognitive benefits are associated with participation in a life review.  Telling one’s personal journey can reduce feelings of social isolation and lead to increased positive feelings as well as help the elderly see more clearly their purpose in life (Robinson & Murphy-Nugen, 2018).

In this current CoVid-19 pandemic, many elders may be impacted by social isolation.  This assignment is one option to connect with an important elderly person in your life and to possibly provide cognitive stimulation, communication and an expression of love and gratitude.  This assignment requires that you interview an older (65+) relative or acquaintance.  An account of one’s story may be told through writing (i.e., email or letter form, etc.) or through an interview (i.e., phone, text or Skype, etc.) if face to face contact is not possible and/or advisable.  Please make sure the person you chose to interview fully understands the nature of the assignment and willingly agrees to participate.  This assignment will allow you to get to know your interviewee as an individual with a unique personal history.  The interview and assignment can also serve as a “legacy” which may be given to family members or cherished as a gift bestowed from an elder who shares their wisdom.  A list of life review questions compiled by Susan Bosak, founder of the Legacy Project is on the course site for you to select from: you DO NOT NEED TO ASK ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS (please see: Option C: Sample Life Interview Questions: Susan Bosak, Legacy Project).  

Suggestions for the life review interview:

1. Allow sufficient time for the process of data gathering (i.e., several hours or consecutive days).

2.  You might want to use your phone to record the information, however, some people might be intimated by this process.  Let your interviewee make that decision.  If you take notes, try and be as accurate as possible.

3.  Assure the person being interviewed that he/she may refuse to answer any questions or that an answer be deleted at a later time.

4.  Because you will be discussing old and perhaps sensitive memories, be prepared for emotions to surface.  This is normal.  Allow the person time and support.  You don’t need to fix anything or feel guilty for asking the question.

5.  Be empathic and nonjudgmental.  Remember that the person is honoring you by sharing his/her life story.

6.  There may be a tendency for the conversation to wander during the interview.  Do your best to stay focused, but remember, this process is important for the older person.

7.  Make sure to thank the person and even offer to let him/her read your transcript.

Instruction Files