Overview: Life Review Analysis
For this assignment, you will reflect on your interview with the older adult, introduce the individual to
the reader, and respond to guiding questions to prepare an analysis paper.
DO NOT INTERVIEW A FAMILY MEMBER UNLESS YOU OBTAIN COACH’S WRITTEN APPROVAL PRIOR
TO INTERVIEW
Your paper should include the following sections:
1. Introduction of Older Adult – This is the overall context of your interview but should not include
the entire interview itself.
2. Analysis of the Life Review Interview – This includes description of the goals and benefits of life
review, your differentiation between a Life Review and ordinary remembering and your analysis
of the degree of ego integrity reached by the older adult.
3. Student’s Reflections – This describes your personal experience during the process, any impact it
will have on your clinical practice, and a projection of your own legacy.
4. References – This is a list of resources you used during your interview and analysis recorded in
APA format. Use at least 3 in-text citations of your sources.
Use APA format throughout paper and references as appropriate. The paper should be no longer than 6
pages (not counting Pages 1-3 of this document and your page of references). If you have questions,
please discuss them with your Academic Coach.
You must also scan, upload, and submit your Interview Consent Form in the appropriate assignment
portal. This form counts toward up to 15 points of your Life Review Analysis score.
Details about each section are given later in this document.
Performance Objectives:
•
Apply gerontologic nursing principles and standards in nursing practice across the continuum of
elder care.
•
Use current evidence and theories in care of older adults.
•
Conduct a personal interview with an older adult for the purpose of documenting Life Review.
Rubric
Use this rubric to guide your work on the assignment, “Life Review Analysis.” The completed Life Review
Interview will be analyzed, tying together what the student has learned from the literature about the
goals and benefits of Life Review as well as evaluating the interviewee's status according to Erikson's
final developmental stage, Ego Integrity vs. Despair.
Interview Consent Form
Accomplished
Proficient
Needs Imp
Submitted on time (5 points)
Complete, with signatures (10
points)
0 points
Submitted
points)
Missing inf
(0 points)
Introduction of Older
Adult Confidentiality
Older adult's identified with initials
only
0 points
Older adult
(0 points)
(2 points)
Selection process/criteria,
Biography, Significant
events, Relationships,
Work and home,
Summary statements
Key information present
Sketchy, missing some information
Missing cri
(7 points)
(5 points)
(2 points)
Organization/quality
Well-organized/brief (maximum 1
page)
0 points
Lacks conti
wordy/long
(1 point)
Analysis of Life Review
goals and Benefits of Life
Review
(0 points)
4+ benefits
2-3 benefits
0-1 benefi
(10 points)
(7 points)
0-2 (0-2 po
Similarity to
Remembering
Comparison with 2+ examples (10
points)
Comparison with 1 example
Compariso
(5 points)
(3 points)
No compar
(0 points)
Differences from
Remembering
Contrast with 2+ examples
Contrast with 1 example
(6 points)
(3 points)
Contrast w
contrast
(0 points)
Erikson's Developmental
Stage Description of
Client
Theory with 2 specific examples (10
points)
Theory with 1 specific example
(8 points)
Loose conn
and client
(3 points)
Missing de
connection
(0 points)
Ego Integrity Rating (1 –
10)
Rating present and plausible
Rationale for rating
Rationale clear from example
0 points
(3 points)
Rating miss
(0 points)
0 points
(3 points)
Rationale u
missing
(0 points)
Citations regarding
Erikson's Theory
1+ reference in text
0 points
Reflections Value and
Reason
Statement(s) with 1+ reason(s)
Statement(s) with no reasons
(3 points)
(1 point)
Most Significant Point of
Interview
Example(s) with 1+ reason(s)
Example(s) with no reasons
(3 points)
(1 point)
(3 points)
No referen
(0 points)
No stateme
points)
No stateme
points)
Most Difficult or
Anguishing part
Example(s) with 1+ reason(s) or
statement of none
Example(s) with no reason
No stateme
(1 points)
(0 points)
No stateme
points)
(3 points)
Impact on Clinical
Practice
Example(s) with 1+ reason(s)
Example(s) with no reason
(3 points)
(1 points)
Personal Legacy
Definition, personal legacy
Definition OR personal legacy
No stateme
(2 points)
(1 point)
(0 points)
APA format, 3+ references
APA format, 1-2 references
(5 points)
(3 points)
Incorrect A
references
APA Format List of
References (end)
(0 points)
References in Body of the
Text
APA format, at least 3 references intext
APA format, 1-2 references in-text
(3 points)
(5 points)
Incorrect A
references
(0 points)
Spelling Puncutation and
Grammar
No errors
1-2 errors
More than
(5 points)
(3 points)
(0 points)
Scope
Within maximum of 6 pages
0 Points
Over 6 pag
(1 point)
-5% of total score if a
family member is
interviewed without
written
0 Points
(0 points)
0 Points
S.F is a 72-year-old African American Female that lives in Mesquite, Texas with her husband. She was
born in Gloster, Mississippi and is the youngest of 3 children. She has lived in Texas for almost 45 years
and has raised her family here. S.F is a retired elementary teacher and substitutes on occasion at
multiple schools in MISD. During her childhood she grew up in a very small neighborhood in Mississippi
in a two-bedroom house. She along with her parents 3 siblings one aunt and 2 of her cousins all lived
there together. She grew up very poor often having to share clothes and shoes that were passed down
from her older siblings. S.F father took many odd jobs often working on cars of being a handy man while
her mother would be a maid for people around the area that needed help. S.F stated she barely saw her
0 Points
parents due to them always working and was primarily raised by her older siblings. S.F was the only one
of her siblings to attend college. She graduated with a degree in education from University of Southern
Mississippi. This was a huge accomplishment for her being that she was the first in the family to attend
college. S.F married at the age of 25 and after giving birth to her first child her and her husband decided
to move to Texas to better themselves. S.F explained that during her childhood she experienced a lot of
racism growing up and even after moving to Texas she dealt with racism in the neighborhood she moved
to. She stated she spent most of her life trying to protect her children from this and they were her
driving force. S.F states now she lives for her grandchildren and looks forward to seeing them on
holidays that they keep her healthy and active. She feels she has lived a great life and is happy to have
seen both Dr Martin Luter King and Barack Obama in one lifetime.
Overview: Life Review Analysis
For this assignment, you will reflect on your interview with the older adult, introduce the individual to
the reader, and respond to guiding questions to prepare an analysis paper.
DO NOT INTERVIEW A FAMILY MEMBER UNLESS YOU OBTAIN COACH’S WRITTEN APPROVAL PRIOR
TO INTERVIEW
Your paper should include the following sections:
1. Introduction of Older Adult – This is the overall context of your interview but should not include
the entire interview itself.
2. Analysis of the Life Review Interview – This includes description of the goals and benefits of life
review, your differentiation between a Life Review and ordinary remembering and your analysis
of the degree of ego integrity reached by the older adult.
3. Student’s Reflections – This describes your personal experience during the process, any impact it
will have on your clinical practice, and a projection of your own legacy.
4. References – This is a list of resources you used during your interview and analysis recorded in
APA format. Use at least 3 in-text citations of your sources.
Use APA format throughout paper and references as appropriate. The paper should be no longer than 6
pages (not counting Pages 1-3 of this document and your page of references). If you have questions,
please discuss them with your Academic Coach.
You must also scan, upload, and submit your Interview Consent Form in the appropriate assignment
portal. This form counts toward up to 15 points of your Life Review Analysis score.
Details about each section are given later in this document.
Performance Objectives:
•
Apply gerontologic nursing principles and standards in nursing practice across the continuum of
elder care.
•
Use current evidence and theories in care of older adults.
•
Conduct a personal interview with an older adult for the purpose of documenting Life Review.
Rubric
Use this rubric to guide your work on the assignment, “Life Review Analysis.” The completed Life Review
Interview will be analyzed, tying together what the student has learned from the literature about the
goals and benefits of Life Review as well as evaluating the interviewee's status according to Erikson's
final developmental stage, Ego Integrity vs. Despair.
Interview Consent Form
Accomplished
Proficient
Needs Imp
Submitted on time (5 points)
Complete, with signatures (10
points)
0 points
Submitted
points)
Missing inf
(0 points)
Introduction of Older
Adult Confidentiality
Older adult's identified with initials
only
0 points
Older adult
(0 points)
(2 points)
Selection process/criteria,
Biography, Significant
events, Relationships,
Work and home,
Summary statements
Key information present
Sketchy, missing some information
Missing cri
(7 points)
(5 points)
(2 points)
Organization/quality
Well-organized/brief (maximum 1
page)
0 points
Lacks conti
wordy/long
(1 point)
Analysis of Life Review
goals and Benefits of Life
Review
(0 points)
4+ benefits
2-3 benefits
0-1 benefi
(10 points)
(7 points)
0-2 (0-2 po
Similarity to
Remembering
Comparison with 2+ examples (10
points)
Comparison with 1 example
Compariso
(5 points)
(3 points)
No compar
(0 points)
Differences from
Remembering
Contrast with 2+ examples
Contrast with 1 example
(6 points)
(3 points)
Contrast w
contrast
(0 points)
Erikson's Developmental
Stage Description of
Client
Theory with 2 specific examples (10
points)
Theory with 1 specific example
(8 points)
Loose conn
and client
(3 points)
Missing de
connection
(0 points)
Ego Integrity Rating (1 –
10)
Rating present and plausible
Rationale for rating
Rationale clear from example
0 points
(3 points)
Rating miss
(0 points)
0 points
(3 points)
Rationale u
missing
(0 points)
Citations regarding
Erikson's Theory
1+ reference in text
0 points
Reflections Value and
Reason
Statement(s) with 1+ reason(s)
Statement(s) with no reasons
(3 points)
(1 point)
Most Significant Point of
Interview
Example(s) with 1+ reason(s)
Example(s) with no reasons
(3 points)
(1 point)
(3 points)
No referen
(0 points)
No stateme
points)
No stateme
points)
Most Difficult or
Anguishing part
Example(s) with 1+ reason(s) or
statement of none
Example(s) with no reason
No stateme
(1 points)
(0 points)
No stateme
points)
(3 points)
Impact on Clinical
Practice
Example(s) with 1+ reason(s)
Example(s) with no reason
(3 points)
(1 points)
Personal Legacy
Definition, personal legacy
Definition OR personal legacy
No stateme
(2 points)
(1 point)
(0 points)
APA format, 3+ references
APA format, 1-2 references
(5 points)
(3 points)
Incorrect A
references
APA Format List of
References (end)
(0 points)
References in Body of the
Text
APA format, at least 3 references intext
APA format, 1-2 references in-text
(3 points)
(5 points)
Incorrect A
references
(0 points)
Spelling Puncutation and
Grammar
No errors
1-2 errors
More than
(5 points)
(3 points)
(0 points)
Scope
Within maximum of 6 pages
0 Points
Over 6 pag
(1 point)
-5% of total score if a
family member is
interviewed without
written
0 Points
(0 points)
0 Points
S.F is a 72-year-old African American Female that lives in Mesquite, Texas with her husband. She was
born in Gloster, Mississippi and is the youngest of 3 children. She has lived in Texas for almost 45 years
and has raised her family here. S.F is a retired elementary teacher and substitutes on occasion at
multiple schools in MISD. During her childhood she grew up in a very small neighborhood in Mississippi
in a two-bedroom house. She along with her parents 3 siblings one aunt and 2 of her cousins all lived
there together. She grew up very poor often having to share clothes and shoes that were passed down
from her older siblings. S.F father took many odd jobs often working on cars of being a handy man while
her mother would be a maid for people around the area that needed help. S.F stated she barely saw her
0 Points
parents due to them always working and was primarily raised by her older siblings. S.F was the only one
of her siblings to attend college. She graduated with a degree in education from University of Southern
Mississippi. This was a huge accomplishment for her being that she was the first in the family to attend
college. S.F married at the age of 25 and after giving birth to her first child her and her husband decided
to move to Texas to better themselves. S.F explained that during her childhood she experienced a lot of
racism growing up and even after moving to Texas she dealt with racism in the neighborhood she moved
to. She stated she spent most of her life trying to protect her children from this and they were her
driving force. S.F states now she lives for her grandchildren and looks forward to seeing them on
holidays that they keep her healthy and active. She feels she has lived a great life and is happy to have
seen both Dr Martin Luter King and Barack Obama in one lifetime.
B. Introduction of Older Adult
Do not submit the entire interview.
A.H. is an 84-year-old white female living alone in Richmond, Texas. She was born in Houston,
Texas, the oldest of three children. During her childhood, she helped raise her two younger siblings
because both her parents had full-time jobs. At the time, it was rare for women, especially mothers, to
work full-time. However, financial struggles left her mother no other choice, which is what lead A.H. to
spend the majority of her childhood by caring for her siblings. A.H. attended high school for one year
and at the age of 15, A.H. decided to get married and replace her studies with a carreer instead. By the
age of 22 she had bought her first car and given birth to 3 children. She recalled this time period as the
happiest and most satisfying point in her life, although it was also the poorest time. Today, she identifies
her children as the most important factor in her life. Looking back, her only regret is that she did not
finish high school, but as a whole she feels as if she has lived a fullfilled life. A.H. explained that while the
number one thing that she looks forward to every day is getting to see her husband again in Heaven, she
knows that God has kept her here on earth for a specific purpose. However, she continued to say that
she is ready to leave this earth whenever God is ready to take her.
C. Analysis of the Life Review Interview
A Life Review is similar to ordinary remembering in the way that it allows the participant the
opportunity to reminisce on past experiences. Throughout my entire interview with A.H., she was
required to think back on past experiences in order to answer my questions. Another similarity between
the two is their effect on the participant. “Studies have shown that elder communities see remarkable
results when reminiscence and life review is encouraged” (Webster, 2005). This was evident throughout
my interview with A.H. as she became nostalgic while reflecting on her memories and experiences. A
Life Review is also different than ordinary remembering in many ways. Ordinary remembering is
described as the simple recall of memories, whereas a Life Review uses ordinary remembering in order
to evaluate how those previous memories impact an individual’s overall understanding of life. For
example, when interviewing A.H. ordinary remembering occurred as I asked questions that were based
on facts like “how many siblings do you have?”. Although she has been estranged from her siblings for
over 50 years, A.H. was able to recall the number of siblings and provide a simple straight-forward
answer. On the other hand with Life Review questions, such as when I asked her to identify the most
important factor in her life, A.H. was required take her recollections a step further and examine how her
memories impacted her life. Lewis and Butler (1974), explain that life reviews are often used as a tool
for therapists. This is another element that differs from ordinary thinking. Life Reviews are typically
focused around a particular topic or theme in order to obtain a desired outcome, and ordinary thinking
is spontaneous and can be done at any time, regarding any topic. My interview with A.H. proves to be a
Life Review, as the questions were structured around topic of life experiences and meanings.
A major benefit of a life review is that it increases the participant’s overall satisfaction with life. Other
benefits include a decrease in disorientation and reduction in depression. “Many researchers have
examined life review and reminiscence in various contexts, and studies have indicated that these
processes can both decrease depression and obsessive reminiscence, and increase self-esteem, quality
of life, and a sense of well-being” (Romaniuk, 1983). Lastly, Life Reviews allow older adults the
opportunity to pass down their stories to the next generation. Beth Saunders explains that “Elders’
stories become like gold—especially as one ages and experiences loss. When older adults finally are
given an opportunity to have someone really listen and help record their stories and wisdom, they feel a
new sense of peace and happiness. What a gift” (Webster, 2005).
According to Erikson, wisdom is acquired as a result of successful completion of the ego identity vs.
despair stage. Someone who possesses wisdom looks back on their life and feels proud of their
achievements with little regrets of the past (Boyd, 2016). After interviewing A.H., I would say that on a
scale of 0 to 10 of Erikson’s ego integrity, she has reached a 9 out of 10. A.H. is definitely content with
the way she has lived her life and she even expressed that she was not afraid of death. In fact, she talked
about how ready she was to be taken to heaven, but if it is not God’s plan yet then she still has purpose
on this earth. I would not rate A.H. as a 10/10 because she did express some kind of regret in life about
not finishing school. However, I feel as if she has found peace about this regret and that it is not a regret
that produces internal confliction, rather A.H. just wishes in retrospect that she had been given the
luxury to finish school.
D. Student’s Reflections
This interview experience was a very enlightening experience for me. This conversation with A.H. has
really opened my eyes and made me realize that life is too short. Dwelling on the minute, meaningless
things in life is a waste of the small amount of time we have on this earth. Before we know it, we are
going to be the ones looking back at our lives and reflecting on our past experiences. And I do not intend
to be one of the individuals who is filled with regret when reflecting upon my own life. The most
significant point of the interview to me, was when she was talking about her life in her 20’s and what it
was like raising her 3 children back then. She talked about how only the extremely wealthy people had
bathrooms in their homes or owned cars. Her family had an outhouse in their back yard (which was a
luxury) and she was required to walk everywhere she went, which was extremely difficult to do with 3
children. She talked about how her husband was a police officer and the local bakery would give the
police officers the left-over loaves of bread at the end of each week. In fact, these loaves were what
constituted for the majority of their meals since money was scarce. And yet, A.H. still attributes this time
in her life as the happiest. This weighed heavy on my heart because it reminded me that monetary
things are not correlated with happiness. Also, I felt so grateful for the things I had growing up. The most
difficult part for me was when I asked her about what she looks forward to today. She told me that
every single day she prays and asks God to take her to heaven whenever he is ready because she is
completely ready. She explained to me that she misses her husband who passed away from cancer and
all that she looks forward to is seeing his face again. A.H. began crying when talking about this and it
shattered my heart to watch. I would say that the way I currently approach the geriatric population in
the hospital is exceptional. Thus, I will probably make only a few changes to my methods. I will certainly
be more empathetic towards the older adults in my clinical practice after this experience and take more
time out of my day to just sit and talk to them. Most older adults are so lonely and just a simple
conversation with them can make their entire day. Legacy is more than just a monetary inheritance. It
includes ideas, stories, and ideologies about life that can be passed down to another person. All of these
things can affect someone else’s life, outlook, attitude, etc. and by being a part of this, you are leaving a
legacy behind. I would like to leave behind wisdom. I want to be able to use my current and past
experiences to help other people who are in need of guidance.
References:
Boyd, M. A. (2016). Essentials of Psychiatric Nursing Text Prepu. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Erikson, E.H. (1982). The Life Cycle Completed. Norton, New York/London.
Lewis, M., & Butler, R. (1974). Life-review therapy: Putting memories to work in individual and group
psychotherapy. Geriatrics, 29, 165-173.
Romaniuk, M., & Romaniuk, J. (1983). Life events and reminiscence: A comparison of the memories of
young and old adults. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 2, 125-136.
Webster, Jeffrey & Haight, Barbara. Critical Advances in Reminiscence Work. Springer Publishing. (2002)
Weil, Andrew. Healthy Aging. (2005)
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