To Enhance the Quality of Life for Larksfield Place Retirement Community Residents Who Choose to Participate

Making meaningful use of one’s time is one very important aspect of quality of life.¹ We are not doing this project FOR the benefit of "old folks." We are doing it WITH the assistance of older persons.

To Share Entertaining and Educational Stories on the I, Witness to History web site

Within the limits of our resources, the goal is to selectively publish on our web site as many of the stories of Larksfield Place residents as possible. For the first time in human history, technology makes it possible to preserve first hand accounts of historical events, and earlier lifestyles, and offer them to ALL the people in the world.

To Share Residents' Memories with Their Immediate Families

Every resident who participates in the initial taped interview may request free copies to give family members.²

To Archive materials at the Kansas State Historical Library and in Special Collections at the Wichita State University (WSU) Ablah Library

In addition to putting parts of their life stories on the web site, our goal is to preserve the the full accounts of selected residents’ lives in the WSU Special Collections Library where they may be accessed by those who desire further information.

To Use the Life Review and Reminiscence Process therapeutically

This is an intergenerational project in which the process is as important as the finished product. Hopefully, all concerned will find the project therapeutic in a general sense—feel they have made good use of their time, and enjoy the other positive mental and physical rewards that come with doing something worthwhile for others. However, not all memories are happy ones. Residents being interviewed should understand they may ask the interviewer to stop at any time, and that professional assistance is available should they request it.

Finally, there are therapeutic benefits that we may wish to scientifically validate, such as:

• Does the experience modify the students’ stereotypes of aging, and feelings regarding the aging process?

• What is the impact of life review and reminiscence on residents with dementia?

¹ As defined by the National Institute of Health (NIH), the four factors impacting quality of life are: (1) physical well-being, (2) mental competence, (3) a supportive environment, and (4) feeling one’s time is being spent in a meaningful fashion.

² Many organizations charge several hundred or thousands of dollars for conducting such an interview.  

[Read more about our goals]

[Read more about our program]