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Objective This study examined the effects of reminiscence on depressive symptoms and mood status of elderly people residing in long-term care facilities. Methods A longitudinal quasi-experimental design was conducted, using two equivalent groups for pre-post test and purposive sampling. Each subject was administered pre- and post- tests at a 4 month interval, but subjects in the experimental group underwent weekly individual reminiscence therapy. Geriatric Depression Scale short form (GDS-SF) and Apparent Emotion Rating Scale (AER) were used as study instruments. Results Forty-eight subjects completed the study, with 25 in the experimental group and 23 in the control group. The experimental findings indicated that the experimental group demonstrated fewer depressive symptoms (p < 0.05) and better mood status (p = 0.05) on the post-test comparing to the control group. Conclusion These warranted that reminiscence therapy is a recommended therapy for older people who reside in care facilities. It can provide a basis for planning geriatric care in community to promote the well being and quality of life of older people. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]