Population aging is a global phenomenon, with the number of older adults increasing rapidly due to improvements in healthcare services, nutrition, and living conditions. According to global demographic projections, the proportion of individuals aged 60 years and above is expected to rise substantially in the coming decades. While increased longevity is a positive achievement, aging is often accompanied by various physical, psychological, and social challenges that affect the quality of life of older adults. Older adults residing in old age homes are particularly vulnerable to emotional problems such as loneliness, depression, anxiety, social isolation, and reduced self-esteem. Separation from family members, loss of social roles, chronic illnesses, and declining physical abilities often contribute to poor psychological well-being. These factors may adversely affect their overall quality of life and hinder healthy aging. Psychological well-being is an important component of successful aging and encompasses positive emotions, life satisfaction, self-acceptance, purpose in life, and meaningful social relationships. Quality of life refers to an individual's perception of their position in life in relation to their goals, expectations, standards, and concerns. Promoting psychological well-being and enhancing quality of life among older adults have become major priorities in geriatric nursing care. Reminiscence therapy is a structured therapeutic intervention that encourages older adults to recall and share meaningful past experiences, achievements, and life events. Through discussions, photographs, music, personal belongings, and storytelling, participants revisit positive memories that foster self-worth, social interaction, and emotional expression. Reminiscence therapy has been recognized as a simple, cost-effective, and non-pharmacological approach to improve mental health outcomes among older adults. Several studies have demonstrated that reminiscence therapy can reduce symptoms of depression, improve self-esteem, enhance social connectedness, and promote life satisfaction among elderly individuals. However, limited evidence is available regarding its effectiveness among residents of old age homes in the Indian context. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of reminiscence therapy on psychological well-being and quality of life among older adults residing in selected old age homes.

The findings of this study may contribute to the development of evidence-based nursing interventions aimed at promoting healthy aging and improving the overall well-being of institutionalized elderly populations.

Need for the Study

Population ageing has emerged as a significant public health concern worldwide, including in India. With increasing life expectancy and declining fertility rates, the proportion of older adults is growing rapidly, leading to an increased demand for geriatric healthcare services. Older adults residing in old age homes often experience multiple psychosocial challenges such as loneliness, social isolation, depression, loss of social roles, and reduced quality of life. These factors negatively influence their psychological well-being and overall health status. ¹

Recent Indian studies have reported that social isolation and loneliness are major determinants of poor psychological well-being among elderly residents of old age homes. Mishra et al.² found that loneliness and social isolation significantly affected the psychological health of institutionalized older adults in India. Similarly, studies conducted in different regions of the country have shown that elderly individuals residing in old age homes have lower quality-of-life scores compared to those living with their families. ³⁻⁴Reminiscence therapy is a simple, cost-effective, and non-pharmacological intervention that encourages older adults to recall and share meaningful life experiences. The therapy has been shown to enhance self-esteem, reduce depressive symptoms, improve social interaction, and promote psychological well-being.⁵ Recent evidence from Chennai, India, demonstrated that reminiscence therapy significantly improved well-being and quality-of-life scores among elderly residents of old age homes.⁶ Likewise, studies conducted in Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh reported positive effects of reminiscence therapy on depression, stress, self-esteem, coping abilities, and emotional well-being among institutionalized older adults.⁷⁻¹⁰ Despite growing evidence regarding the benefits of reminiscence therapy, limited studies have simultaneously assessed its effectiveness on both psychological well-being and quality of life among elderly residents of old age homes in the Indian context. Furthermore, psychosocial interventions remain underutilized in routine geriatric nursing practice. Therefore, there is a need to evaluate the effectiveness of reminiscence therapy as an evidence-based nursing intervention to improve psychological well-being and quality of life among older adults residing in old age homes. The findings of the present study may provide valuable evidence for integrating reminiscence therapy into routine geriatric nursing care and promoting healthy ageing among institutionalized elderly populations

The present study employed a quantitative research approach using a quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test control group design to assess the effectiveness of reminiscence therapy on psychological well-being and quality of life among older adults residing in selected old age homes of Gurugram, Haryana. The study population comprised elderly individuals aged 60 years and above living in institutional settings. A total of 60 participants were selected through purposive sampling and divided equally into an experimental group (n=30) and a control group (n=30). Older adults who were willing to participate, able to communicate in Hindi or English, and cognitively capable of recalling past experiences were included in the study, whereas those with severe cognitive impairment, psychiatric illness, hearing deficits, or critical health conditions were excluded. Baseline data were collected using a structured demographic questionnaire, a standardized Psychological Well-Being Scale, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire. Following the pre-test assessment, the experimental group received structured reminiscence therapy sessions twice a week for six weeks, with each session lasting approximately 45–60 minutes. The therapy sessions focused on guided discussions of childhood memories, family relationships, educational experiences, occupational achievements, cultural traditions, significant life events, and personal accomplishments. Various memory-stimulating aids such as photographs, music, and familiar objects were utilized to facilitate active participation and recall. The control group received routine care without any therapeutic intervention. After six weeks, post-test assessments were conducted for both groups using the same standardized instruments. Content validity of the tools and intervention protocol was established through expert review, and reliability was ensured through pilot testing, yielding satisfactory reliability coefficients. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee, and written informed consent was secured from all participants before data collection. Confidentiality and anonymity were maintained throughout the study. Data were analysed using SPSS version 26.0. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation were used to summarize the data, while paired t-tests, independent t-tests, and chi-square tests were employed to determine the effectiveness of reminiscence therapy and its association with selected demographic variables. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

A total of 60 older adults participated in the study, with 30 participants each in the experimental and control groups. The majority of participants were aged between 60–70 years (45.0%), female (56.7%), widowed (51.7%), and had been residing in old age homes for more than two years (58.3%). Baseline demographic characteristics were comparable between the two groups. The pre-test assessment revealed that both groups had similar levels of psychological well-being and quality of life. The mean pre-test psychological well-being score of the experimental group was 48.2 ± 8.6, while that of the control group was 47.6 ± 8.1. Similarly, the mean pre-test quality of life score was 52.8 ± 9.1 in the experimental group and 53.2 ± 8.8 in the control group, indicating no statistically significant difference between the groups before the intervention (p > 0.05). Following six weeks of reminiscence therapy, a significant improvement was observed in the experimental group. The mean psychological well-being score increased from 48.2 ± 8.6 to 71.4 ± 7.2, whereas the control group showed only a marginal increase from 47.6 ± 8.1 to 49.1 ± 8.3.

The difference between pre-test and post-test scores in the experimental group was found to be statistically significant (t = 12.84, p < 0.001). Similarly, the quality-of-life score in the experimental group improved significantly from 52.8 ± 9.1 during the pre-test to 76.5 ± 8.4 during the post-test. In contrast, the control group demonstrated a slight increase from 53.2 ± 8.8 to 54.7 ± 8.5. The improvement in quality of life among participants receiving reminiscence therapy was statistically significant (t = 11.63, p < 0.001).

Interpretation

The study findings demonstrate that reminiscence therapy significantly improved both psychological well-being and quality of life among elderly residents of old age homes, supporting its use as an effective non-pharmacological nursing intervention in geriatric care.

Furthermore, a significant positive correlation (r = 0.68, p < 0.001) was observed between psychological well-being and quality of life among older adults. Chi-square analysis revealed a significant association between post-test psychological well-being scores and selected demographic variables such as age and duration of stay in the old age home (p < 0.05). The findings indicate that reminiscence therapy was effective in enhancing psychological well-being and improving the quality of life among older adults residing in old age homes.

The present study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of reminiscence therapy on psychological well-being and quality of life among older adults residing in selected old age homes. The findings revealed a statistically significant improvement in both psychological well-being and quality of life among participants who received reminiscence therapy. The mean psychological well-being score increased from 48.2 ± 8.6 in the pre-test to 71.4 ± 7.2 in the post-test, while the mean quality of life score improved from 52.8 ± 9.1 to 76.5 ± 8.4 following the intervention. These findings suggest that reminiscence therapy is an effective psychosocial nursing intervention for promoting emotional health and enhancing overall well-being among institutionalized elderly individuals. The improvement in psychological well-being observed in the present study may be attributed to the opportunity provided by reminiscence therapy for older adults to recall positive life experiences, achievements, family relationships, and meaningful events. Sharing memories in a supportive group environment promotes self-esteem, emotional expression, social interaction, and a sense of identity. The intervention also helped participants reflect positively on their lives, thereby fostering life satisfaction and psychological resilience. The findings of the present study are consistent with those reported by Sathiyanathan et al.¹, who found that reminiscence therapy significantly improved well-being and quality-of-life scores among elderly residents of old age homes in Chennai, India. The researchers concluded that structured reminiscence sessions facilitated emotional expression and promoted positive mental health among older adults. Similar improvements in quality of life were observed in the present study, indicating the effectiveness of reminiscence therapy across different institutional settings.

The present findings are also supported by Vincent and Suvitha², who reported a significant reduction in depression levels among elderly residents of old age homes following reminiscence therapy. Their study demonstrated that recalling pleasant and meaningful life events reduced feelings of sadness, loneliness, and emotional distress. Although depression was not directly assessed in the present study, the significant improvement in psychological well-being may indicate a similar reduction in negative emotional states among participants.

Furthermore, the findings are comparable to those of Naveen and Kaur³, who reported that reminiscence therapy significantly reduced stress levels and improved self-esteem and coping abilities among older adults residing in old age homes in Gurugram, Haryana. The authors suggested that reminiscence therapy enhances psychological adjustment by allowing older adults to recognize personal achievements and develop a positive outlook toward life. These findings support the present study, where participants demonstrated enhanced emotional well-being following the intervention.

The present study also identified a significant positive relationship between psychological well-being and quality of life. This finding is supported by Mishra et al.⁴, who highlighted that social isolation and loneliness negatively affect the psychological well-being of elderly residents in Indian old age homes. The authors emphasized the importance of interventions that encourage social participation and meaningful interaction. Reminiscence therapy addresses these concerns by providing opportunities for communication, social engagement, and emotional support among older adults. The observed improvement in quality of life among the experimental group may be explained by increased social connectedness, improved self-worth, enhanced emotional stability, and greater satisfaction with life. Participation in reminiscence sessions enabled older adults to share experiences, build relationships, and feel valued within the group. Such positive experiences contribute significantly to overall quality of life and healthy aging.

Overall, the findings of the present study are in agreement with existing national and international evidence regarding the effectiveness of reminiscence therapy. The intervention was found to be simple, economical, culturally acceptable, and easy to administer within institutional settings. Therefore, reminiscence therapy can be recommended as an evidence-based nursing intervention for improving psychological well-being and quality of life among older adults residing in old age homes.

Implications of the Study

Nursing Practice

The findings of the present study demonstrated that reminiscence therapy significantly improved psychological well-being and quality of life among older adults residing in old age homes. Therefore, reminiscence therapy can be incorporated into routine geriatric nursing care as a non-pharmacological intervention. Community health nurses, geriatric nurses, and mental health nurses can utilize reminiscence therapy to promote emotional well-being, reduce loneliness, enhance self-esteem, and improve social interaction among elderly individuals. Regular reminiscence sessions may contribute to healthy aging and improved psychosocial adjustment among institutionalized older adults.

Nursing Education

The findings emphasize the need to include reminiscence therapy and other psychosocial interventions in undergraduate and postgraduate nursing curricula. Nursing students should be provided with opportunities to develop skills in conducting reminiscence sessions and addressing the emotional needs of older adults. Educational programs and workshops can enhance nurses' competencies in implementing evidence-based geriatric care interventions.

Nursing Administration

Nursing administrators should encourage the implementation of reminiscence therapy programs in old age homes, geriatric wards, and community settings. Adequate resources, staff training, and supportive policies should be provided to facilitate the integration of psychosocial interventions into routine elderly care services. Regular monitoring and evaluation of such programs may enhance the quality of care delivered to older adults.

Nursing Research

The present study contributes to the growing body of evidence supporting reminiscence therapy as an effective nursing intervention. Future researchers can explore the long-term effects of reminiscence therapy, compare individual and group-based approaches, and assess its effectiveness among elderly populations with specific health conditions such as dementia, depression, or chronic illnesses. Further multicentre studies with larger sample sizes are recommended to strengthen the evidence base,

The present study was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of reminiscence therapy on psychological well-being and quality of life among older adults residing in selected old age homes. The findings revealed a significant improvement in both psychological well-being and quality of life among participants who received reminiscence therapy compared with those who received routine care. The intervention enabled older adults to recall and share meaningful life experiences, thereby enhancing self-esteem, emotional expression, social interaction, and life satisfaction. The study findings support the theoretical assumption that positive life review promotes ego integrity and psychological adjustment during later life. Reminiscence therapy provided participants with opportunities to reflect on achievements, overcome feelings of loneliness, and establish meaningful interpersonal relationships. As a result, participants demonstrated improved emotional well-being and a more positive perception of their quality of life. The findings are consistent with recent national and international research, highlighting reminiscence therapy as a simple, cost-effective, culturally acceptable, and evidence-based nursing intervention. The study underscores the important role of nurses in addressing the psychosocial needs of older adults through structured therapeutic approaches.

In conclusion, reminiscence therapy is an effective non-pharmacological intervention for enhancing psychological well-being and quality of life among older adults residing in old age homes. Its integration into routine geriatric nursing practice may contribute significantly to healthy aging, emotional wellness, and improved quality of life among elderly populations.

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