Facilitating Spiritual Reminiscence for People with Dementia
by Elizabeth MacKinlay and Corinne Trevitt
ISBN: 978-1849055734
Pub Date: June 21, 2015
Imprint: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
When I approached the publisher and Prof. MacKinlay about this book, I did so with the full knowledge that it is not one of her full-length research books, but rather, a kind of “how to” book. Notice the subtitle: “A Learning Guide.” It brings together the findings of several of her previous full length, research-based books, into this practical guide including, Finding Meaning in the Experience of Dementia: The Place of Spiritual Reminiscence Work (2012, 306 pages) and The Spiritual Dimension of Ageing, Second Edition (2017, 395 pages).
Facilitating Spiritual Reminiscence for People with Dementia is, then, a practical resource for practitioners in the field with or without an interest in the academic underpinning. Part 1 presents and explains the concept and process of spiritual reminiscence. Part 2 presents an outline and guidelines for implementing a six-week program. Two appendices provide further topical and promotional materials. And so, I thought this short book—which is both a digest of research and practical application—would be a great resource to recommend for logotherapists, pastoral counselors, and others who have relationships with people experiencing dementia, their family members, and so on. At 118 pages this learning guide outlines a manageable, adaptable, and effective program for caregivers of all persuasions.
However, spiritual reminiscence is not a process limited to elderly people with dementia. This book just happens to model the process with dementia patients in a facility. As a general process or technique, spiritual reminiscence has potential for wider applications and is worth our attention for a number of reasons. First, in my own experience with people experiencing psychosis, I have observed what Viktor Frankl described with his psychiatric credo, the idea that even behind the symptoms of psychotic or neurological illness there is an intact human spirit. As I searched for examples of techniques for activating the spiritual resources of people with such issues, I discovered Prof. MacKinlay’s work. Granted that spiritual reminiscence does not require people to have dementia or any other psychosis, its effective use in such cases is well documented here and in the lengthier publications.
I also learned from Prof. MacKinlay herself that she spent a number of summers working in programs at the Center for Aging, Religion, and Spirituality with Prof. Mel Kimble during her post-doctoral work. And this means, as can also be seen in her full-length academic resources, that Viktor Frankl and Logotherapy are important influences in her work (along with Erik Erikson). As I read and worked through this learning guide, I constantly found myself pausing to underline a passage or write a note in the margin showing the connections to Frankl’s life and work. So I think that practitioners of logotherapy and existential analysis will find it a very useful resource.
Third, MacKinlay is an Anglican priest who spent many years as a registered nurse (RN) and remains a fellow at the Australian College of Nursing (FACN). She was the inaugural Director of the Centre for Ageing and Pastoral Studies which began at St Mark's National Theological Centre, Canberra, and is now an independent organization. She is also a Professor in the School of Theology, Charles Sturt University. Similarly, Corinne Trevitt is a registered nurse and Academic Associate at the Centre for Ageing and Pastoral Studies in the School of Theology, Charles Sturt University, Australia. Thus, in these two practitioners we find more colleagues whose life and work brings the human noëtic dimension back into the healing arts, and a wealth of research and experience to inform our practice of pastoral logotherapy.
Finally, the process of spiritual reminiscence as presented in Facilitating Spiritual Reminiscence for People with Dementia is a great example of helping people discover meaning through attitudinal values, those values that come from choosing our stance—or attitude—about unavoidable suffering or circumstances. Dementia and other psychoses are big examples, but so are aging and loss. And I can see how the process described in this book can be easily adapted to groups and individuals experiencing these and other of the vicissitudes of life.
Tom Edmondson for meaninginministry.com
Date Of Review: September 2026