This book is designed to be used by anybody working with older adults in residential, nursing and day care facilities. It provides a wealth of reminiscence material which can be used in a number of ways to rekindle memories and provide stimulating activity such as quizzes and discussion.

Each year covered in the book is divided into the sections ‘Major events’, ‘On the home front’, ‘Music’, ‘Television’, ‘Screen and page’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Do you remember?’. Many sections can be easily turned into quizzes and it would be simple to form a quiz from each year’s material. One cannot cover all that happened in these years nor highlight all the associations each event or fact triggers, so the material is intended to be expanded on by the memories it triggers in clients during discussion. So, for example, where a film title is mentioned ask if people can recall the stars of the film, its plot and how it ended. The ‘Major events’ section will trigger lots of opinions too as it covers the political events of the decades so try to get the groups to discuss the ethical and moral dilemmas these posed at the time.

The book is intended for use with individuals and groups but you will discover that in a group one persons memories will trigger anothers and so what seems like a small topic can last for the whole session as we all try to tell our personal tales.

While the content has a UK bias, it also covers the major world events of the decades but I have included a blank page for each year for you to record your own personal landmarks and achievements and also those of your local town or community.