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STORYTELLING
Creative storytelling is catching on as a
therapeutic tool for individuals with Alzheimer's
disease—and their families. It is increasingly being
used in adult day programs and other group settings.
Pleased with the results, experts say families can
adapt this technique for use in their home
environments as well.
Storytelling sparks memories, encourages
verbalization and promotes self-esteem among those
with dementia, according to healthcare
professionals. "Inevitably, storytelling is about
memories, but it opens the rules to include
imagination and to create something new that accepts
who they are and where they are in the moment.
That's a great thing for families," noted Anne
Basting, founder of the Milwaukee-based National
TimeSlips Project.
Renya Larson, a TimeSlips facilitator and the
associate director of the National Center for
Creative Aging, Brooklyn, NY, calls TimeSlips a
"potent" tool designed for individuals in the middle
to late stages of Alzheimer's disease who can no
longer communicate through conventional methods.
Participants can comfortably incorporate gestures,
sounds and facial expressions into the story.
For individuals still in the earlier stages, Larson
suggested, "Creativity may be threatening. They want
to hold on to the true stories they still have."
However, it may be possible to adjust the program by
including more reminiscence and current events.
How-to of creative storytelling:
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Create the right scene.
Eliminate background noise, like TV and radio,
and set up in a dedicated space. Prepare a
sketchpad, brightly colored markers and an
image. Do storytelling during the "magic hour"
for higher cognitive functioning—9:30 am to
11:30 am or right after lunch. Maintain eye
contact.
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Choose pictures carefully.
The more unrealistic the picture, the better.
Large, colorful pictures that are odd or include
animals mimicking what people do spark
creativity. While you might be inclined to use
family photos, they raise the possibility of
right and wrong answers, and a sense of failure.
Instead, try a picture that triggers something
from the past, but that is not too close so that
it prompts the person to focus on remembering.
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Learn questioning techniques.
The wording of the questions is even more
critical than the images. Questions that elicit
yes and no, or direct answers will not work.
Inquiries like "Who is this?" or "What is this?"
are outlawed. These create a pressure cooker for
an individual with dementia, and set them up for
a wrong answer. Only open-ended questions are
encouraged, such as: "What should we call the
person?" "Where are they going?" "What could
this be?" "What is going on here?"
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Be persistent.
If the method does not click one day, try again
another day. It might take a lot of cajoling to
get the person to respond. Engaging other family
members in storytelling can stimulate more
responses from the person with dementia,
bringing the process closer to a group
experience.
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Keep a stiff upper lip.
The whole idea is to open up the thought
process. Responses may be negative, incorrect or
resurrect family baggage. Individuals often
voice their contrariness or use sexual or
bathroom language. Still, echo whatever is said
and make that the story. Otherwise, if you frown
upon their answers, they will be afraid to
participate. It is important to validate
comments-however shocking, and move on.
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Integrate music.
Sometimes music will prompt responses even among
individuals who are no longer verbal. Bring in
music by asking open-ended questions, such as,
"What might she be singing?" or "What music does
the character like?"
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Go with the flow.
You do not have to write the story down if you
feel it will distract from enjoying the moment.
Consider using a tape recorder or involving a
youngster as the scribe.
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Redefine "story."
Creative storytelling does not have to have a
beginning, middle and end, nor does it have to
make sense. For example, a character can have
three names and words can be nonsensical. Most
of all, remember this is creative storytelling.
Noted Basting: "It can be scary for people to
let go of literal language. But if you can
follow to where the person is, you can find a
whole new way to connect to your loved one."
Note:
Experts caution that creative storytelling can be
more challenging one-on-one than in a group setting.
Families will need to jump over some hurdles, but,
with that done, this technique can be successfully
adapted to the home—and can be very rewarding
all-around.
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