Once thought to be a useless activity or harmless pastime at best, seniors, families and caregivers increasingly recognize the value of reminiscences and life reflection. One of the first researchers to appreciate the power of life stories was Dr. Robert Butler, founder of the New York-based International Longevity Center. In a 1963 paper, he coined the term "Life Review."
"I was struck some years back by the fact that older people tended to review their life. At that time whenever people reminisced it was regarded by psychologists and psychiatrists as possible early signs of senility," Dr. Butler says. "But because we were studying vital, healthier older people, it struck me how important it was for people to come to grips with the kind of life they had led.