“We live our lives forward, but we understand them backwards.”—Soren Kierkegaard

A life review and reminiscing are two very effective therapeutic tools to use with individuals living with dementia. Below is a comprehensive list of suggested questions to get you started. This list was created by the Hospice of Cincinnati. Friends and family can help obtain the information during multiple sessions. You may want to ask the same question at different times in case new information can be retrieved as well as to confirm answers.

Childhood (birth-13 years)

• Location of birth:
• Residence:
• Formal experiences (spiritual/secular/education):
• What do you remember most about your parents?
• What do you remember most about your grandparents?
• Who took care of you?
• What are you favorite stories about your siblings?
• What is your favorite childhood memory?
• Did you have a favorite toy as a child?
• Did you have any pets? If so, what were they? What were there names?
• Who did you spend most of your time with as a child?
• Who had the most significant influence on you as a child?

Adolescence (14-21 years)

• Residence: Formal experiences (spiritual/secular/education/achievements/awards):
• Were you a good student?
• What did you do after school?
• What did you do in the evenings? On weekends?
• What was it like to be a teenager?
• Who was your best friend?
• What were your goals as a teenager?
• Who was your first love and how did you meet?
• Did you have a job as a teenager? What were your job duties?
• What were your greatest lessons at this age?
• Did you play a sport or participate in any activities?
• Who taught you how to drive a car? What was your first car?
• What was your favorite and least favorite thing about being a teenager?
• Do you have any funny/embarrassing stories from when you were a teenager?
• Did you vacation as a family? What was your favorite vacation?

Young Adulthood (22-35 years)

• Home(s):
• Spiritual experiences:
• Educational achievements, awards:
• Marriage, children:
• Career choices, experiences, awards:
• Travels, national service:
• What was your main career?
• How did you choose your particular career path?
• Did you attend college? What college did you attend?
• Did you get married? When did you know you wanted to be married? What was your wedding like?
• Did you have children? What is your fondest memory about each of your children?
• How did you choose your children’s names? Were they named after anyone?
• What was the greatest thing you taught your children?
• What were your goals as a young adult?
• What was your favorite hobby? Did anyone share your hobby with you?
• Did you have any struggles as a young adult you had to overcome?

Middle Adulthood (36-65 years)

• Home(s):
• Children, grandchildren:
• Career experiences, achievements, awards:
• Travels, national service:
• Did you have any children/grand children? What is your favorite story about each?
• What was the greatest thing you taught your children/grandchildren?
• What were your goals as an adult?
• What were your hobbies as an adult?
• Did you have any struggles as an adult you had to overcome?
• Did you have any regrets during this time?
• What were your fondest memories during this time?

Older Adulthood (66-99 years)

• Home(s):
• Grandchildren, great-grandchildren:
• Career experiences, achievements, awards:
• Health challenges and outcomes:
• What is your favorite story about your grandchildren/great-grandchildren?
• What is your greatest accomplishment in life?
• If you had a chance to go back in time, is there anything you would have done differently?
• What was the happiest time of your life?
• What do you want your family/friends to remember most about you?

Miscellaneous Questions

• What was your favorite holiday to celebrate? What is your favorite holiday memory?
• What is your favorite vacation spot? What was your favorite trip?
• Is there any vacation spot you would never go back to? Why?
• Is there anywhere you wanted to go but never got the chance?
• Is there any dream you wanted to pursue you never got around to?
• How do you most want to be remembered?