Life Review

Life review refers to reminiscence in revisiting and evaluating one's life experiences, often at the end of life. Life review has been described as the relatively systematic reflection upon one's life and personal history. Like a story, life review encompasses an assessment of life's vicissitudes with all of its triumphs, successes, and failures, of life's twists and turns. The life review process is commonly used by professionals in conjunction with the dying elderly, but it is utilized in a range of settings. The concept has broad appeal because a specific therapeutic approach or discipline is not required.

For the dying, life review affords an opportunity to take the listener to where the dying person needs to go, to revisit the past. Often this means embarking on a series of painful experiences that did not turn out well. As reviewers have an opportunity to revisit and thereby reprocess part of life, they often develop new insights, allowing them to redefine if not accept a life event they must learn to integrate into whatever time they have remaining. It is through life review that individuals find that their life has meaning.

Developmentally life review facilitates the final psychosocial life stage, “integrity,” as described by Erik Erikson, who proposed all individuals accept life as it is lived with no substitutions. In so doing, a person experiences integrity rather than despair.

A critical component of life review is the relationship established between the reviewer and the listener or any individual who commits to being interested in the reviewer and communicates that interest to increase interpersonal rapport. Life review occurs when trust is established in that relationship. It requires a secure environment and a caring relationship to facilitate the sharing of private thoughts and life events that are viewed in a negative context. Successful life review is based on acceptance without judgment. Although the listener may hear expressions that are difficult to accept or understand, and be exposed to issues that are contrary to their personal values, it is important the listener maintain a neutral posture lest the negative nature and feelings of the past event be reinforced in the speaker.

Intended to benefit the reviewer, the experience can also benefit family members. But life review is not intended to resolve family conflicts. It is also true that the reviewer may desire to share with someone outside the circle of family and friends. Described as the “stranger sitting on the airplane phenomenon,” there is therapeutic value when the stranger leaves, taking all the secrets with him or her.

It is not uncommon for the review to be presented in a harsh manner. Thus, one skill important for the listener to develop is “reframing,” allowing the reviewer to move to a new understanding of past events while evaluating the past in a balanced context.

A variation in life review is useful for enlarging the family's oral history. These methods include writing, audiotapes, and videotapes. Music, home videos, pictures, and treasured mementos also are useful for stimulating the telling of stories. They are natural connectors to a variety of times and places in their lives.

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