ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the loss of the life story or personal narrative in dementia leading to the eventual loss of narrative identity. Life review and life review counselling will form part of the ensuing discussion, as informants were often inclined to evaluate individual experiences and to comment on their lives as a whole. The emotions of sadness, guilt and shame were associated with most informants' recollections, except for those of Mrs Bessie Pinks who preferred to dwell on the pleasant things of life. For the researcher, understanding of the importance of story came through listening to and studying the text of informants' stories. Most informants had unresolved griefs associated in some cases with very old memories. The most important strategy was that of addressing the emotional message given by the informants. All informants had emotional memories available for recall. The argument that emotional autobiographical memories carry personally relevant meaning, is also applicable.
