Links with the Past: Tomorrows Treasures

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Links with the PastTomorrows Treasures

• Prepared By
• Jan Park, Ph.D.
• Gerontology Specialist

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Specific Objectives

• Reminisce
• Record History
• Promote Communication

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Why do we enjoy reminiscing about the past?

• Instruct, entertain younger generations.
• Maintain self-esteem, reinforce a sense of
  identity.
• Reflect on lifes accomplishments.
• Rekindles ideas.
• Discover meaning in life.

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Why do we enjoy reminiscing about the past?

• Put positive and negative aspects.
• Past plans and goals
• Continuity - past to present.
• Deal with grief.
• Emotions, pleasure, pain.

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The cycle of emotion

• Pain Present, Past, Future
• Unexpressed Anger
• Depression

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Ways to deal with hurt

• Hurt - basic negative feeling.
• Willing.
• Deny hurt - turns into anger.
• Tell the person.
• Resolve the emotion and move on.

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How does sharing the past benefit the younger
generations?

• Gain knowledge and understanding.
• Bridge the past and present.
• Basis for satisfying relationship.
• Insight about older persons present behavior.
• Discover positive qualities.
• The older I get -- the more like myself I
  become.

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What are some different types of family histories?

• Recipe Books.
• Medical History.
• Genealogy (Family Tree).
• Community History.
• Photo History.

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Options for putting together your life story -
Free Style

• Advantages
• Creative

• Disadvantages

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Options for putting together your life story -
Books

• Advantages
• Just Follow Topics

• Disadvantages
• Limited Space
• Handwritten
• Difficult to Read
• Corrections Difficult
• Difficult to Customize
• Not Wish to Share Info

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Options for putting together your life story -
Games

• Generations
• Life Stories A Family Game

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Suggestions for getting started

• Create Atmosphere
• Facilitator Throws Out Questions
• Old Pictures
• Key Words
• Music
• Decorations
• Refreshments

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Ways to record your life story-Interview
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Ways to record your life story-Computer Word
Processor

• Advantages.
• Easy Corrections.
• Easy to Read.
• Print Size Adjustable.
• Choice of Print Styles - simple, printed, old
  block, clean, abstract.
• Insert Clip Art.
• Use colored ink

• Disadvantages
• Do not have computer
• Do not use a computer

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Ways to record your life story-Typewriter

• Advantages
• Easy to read
• Availability

• Disadvantages
• Corrections Difficult.
• Less Readable.

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Ways to record your life story-Handwritten

• Advantages
• Write Anywhere, Anytime.

• Disadvantages
• Not Easily Read.
• Corrections Difficult.

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Ways to record your life story-Tape Record

• Advantages
• Tapes listened to over and over.

• Disadvantages
• Not Comfortable Talking into Recorder.

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Ways to record your life story-Camcorder

• Advantages
• Have Both Audio and Video.

• Disadvantages

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Ways to record your life story-Videos

• Advantages
• Still Photos can be Made into Videos.

• Disadvantages

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Topics to spur conversationabout the past

• Personal Events.
• Major Events.
• School Days.

• Movies.
• Childhood Illnesses.
• Television.
• Family Sharing.
• Topic Ideas.

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Topics to spur conversationabout the past

• Holidays.
• Natural Events.
• Rural Electric.
• Vacations.

• Harvest Time.
• Community Activities.
• Family Pets.
• Farm Chores.

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Summary

• Be Creative.
• Use Family Pictures, Art, Crafts.
• Let Personality Shine Through.