Guided Life Reviews by Students with Older Adults in an Assisted Living Facility

A life review is a systematic examination of several dimensions of life leading to a recorded life story, usually in writing, but sometimes with the aid of video or audio equipment. This activity can be both a powerful educational tool and a community service when students conduct a guided life review in the community with vulnerable older adults. This article describes an innovative university course curriculum that links student life review projects to an assisted living facility. Master's level students guided older residents of this facility through a 25-page life review, and facilitated a group sharing of life stories at this community site. While older adults reported on how satisfied they were with this project, their feedback also revealed several ongoing educational issues that need to be addressed. There are also interesting entrepreneurial career prospects emerging in the life review field.