Unconventional Storytelling- Dementia

 Image of an open book. On the left is a pirate, open chest and palm tree. on the right is a pirate ship. In the middle letters are floating up. Title of image is Unconventional Storytelling. and the image is marked with The Encouragers Life name.

The benefits of storytelling are expansive.


Whether you live with dementia, dyslexia, autism, processing delay, or another condition in this wheelhouse; storytelling done right can open up neurological pathways that otherwise would be cut off or underutilised.

Today we are going to be looking at storytelling for those living with Dementia.

Stories, books and words are powerful tools for connecting with those at any stage of Dementia, Alzheimer's or memory loss.

It offers stimulation.
Can evoke memories in some.
But the main aim of any storyteller or facilitator should be the feeling that the audience is left with.

Yes.
It is likely you will be forgotten.

Probably your words won't linger.
But how you have made the person feel... that will.

Don't be afraid to try a few formats until you find the one that peaks interest or gains reward with engagement.

I personally found that music was my switch.

I would read and see people stare, politely listening but not getting any enjoyment.
Until I blended story and music.

Finding a way to connect the dots, connect the moments, connect the memories.
Is finding a way to the person.

However many senses we are born or living with.
We have 5 opportunities for engagement.
5 pathways for imagination.
5 catalysts for communication.
5 elements available for us to connect.

Below are how I use some of our senses to elevate storytelling, making it more appealing and easier to access for those that are loving with dementia.

So whether you are a carer, family member or someone who has a heart for their community, feel free to try some of these out.

Visual Stimulation

Images.
Videos.
Props.

Having something to look at helps the brain to begin to search for a story.
It triggers the brain to have a response if something looks familiar or if you would have used it during your childhood.

I personally love to do the sea as a topic.

Pictures of days at the beach.
Spade and bucket.
And even some seashells can spark something within people.

Auditory Elements

Incorporating sounds that complement the story from recording, sound effects or even songs that embody the topic you are covering on the day can evoke emotions and memories, making stories relatable and engaging.

Tactile Interaction

Touch is important.
I know that holding a flower transports me back to the days of making daisy chains and rolling down hills.

Having something to touch or hold is a launching pad for making reminiscing more vivid which in turn creates a "rolling effect," bringing other thoughts, feelings and personal accounts to the surface, which roots them in their personal experience.

Olfactory Cues

What are Olfactory cues?
Well it is simply... smell.

I personally love cut grass.
My fondest memories of playing badminton with my family in the garden come when I smell cut grass.

Smells that are relevant to the stories can add that extra element to storytelling.

Using candles, (if they are appropriate) or scent bags are a good way of going about it for bespoke topics.

But grabbing a bottle and putting some sea water in it.
Fresh flowers.
Or a freshly baked loaf, can be easy ways of connecting with the audience.

Taste Experiences

Not always possible in a room with a group of strangers.
Or where health and safety or dietary restrictions exist.

But if "Taste" it is available to you.
You can have a great time chatting about childhood days with a jelly baby.
Or an orange, especially at Christmas time!


Storytelling is not confined to book.
It is an experience.

We began storytelling by painting pictures on walls of caves.
Singing by fires.
And sharing local stories.

It doesn't have to be I read, you listen.
It was never meant to be that way.

By embracing storytelling on all levels we can bring joy to those who maybe can't even read anymore.

Or maybe someone who needs time with another to explore themes and reminisce about the good things from their past.

We make storytelling what we want it to be.

Benefits of Unconventional Storytelling

There are four main benefits to multisensory storytelling.

1. Enhanced Engagement

Using multiple senses keeps people engaged and attentive.

2. Memory Stimulation 

Sensory cues can trigger memories and help others recall past experiences.

3. Emotional Well-being

Positive stories and experiences can improve mood and reduce anxiety.

4. Social Interaction

Storytelling sessions provide opportunities for social interaction, reducing feelings of loneliness or isolation.


If you are planning on working with others.
reading stories and providing an activity.

Remember above all else.

Give the people a good time.
Go at their speed.
Ask questions.
Keep your stories concise and not too long.
And leave them feeling good.

And if you have been able to do all that.
Then you have done a great job my friend.


Want to learn more about the science behind the brain and storytelling, check out Neuro Launch.

Be sure to check out our next article here on ‘The Encouragers Life.’

 Article written by J. Bingham

Copyright 2024





Popular posts from this blog

When Will I Feel Ready?

Image
  As the dog toddled beside me sniffing every scent, smell or gross thing that he could find all I could think about was the feeling I had. I thought about this often on our walks. About how I wasn't where I needed or wanted to be. I thought about all the hills I would have to climb to get there. All the mountains in the way. All the things I didn't know. The skills I don't yet have. And the overwhelm of 'cluelessness,' would come meaning by the time I would return home I would be returning to life feeling like those mountains where higher, those hills were steeper and the skills I would have to learn were impossible for my brain to comprehend. I loathed feeling that way. Because the fact is I am a hard worker. I accomplish in the face of my limitations. I am like a Jack Russell pup who refuses to give up the toy. I am relentless. Yet adorable. But I also get tired. Discouraged. Demotivated. Just like everyone else. We are human. And that is both wonderful and a pai...
Read more

From Then To Now

Image
As I watched the men throwing the rope out to wrap around the deer's antlers I empathised with the deer all too deeply. It was stuck in mire. It was tired. It was scared. It was breathing heavily groaning under the strain of its ordeal. Sweat and muck on its coat. It was in a bad state. The men pulled. I worried for its neck. The pull forced its nose into the muck making the deer catch its laboured breath. The truth was, if the men gave up. It was done for. But the pulling was also dangerous to its mortality. The deer had wandered in. It relied on its successes in the past to be the foundation of its accomplishment with this crossing. It's trapping was its own instinct gone wrong. Now it couldn't move. Bogged down by the mud drying around it. Encasing it. Surrounding it. The deer just wanted to get to the other side. It just wanted to make it. So it went for it. It took a chance. It believed it could make it. It pressed through. It made it three quarters of the way cross be...
Read more

The Wonders of A Backpack

Image
  Details of the book referenced in this article will be listed at the end.   As I rolled around my back garden, developing games with my child, I never could have predicted the depth they would also bring to my walk through life.   My story of Hip Hooray and Robot Ray sailing the sea only to be eaten by a whale, involves, in every moment, the backpack that Hip carries with her on their journey.   Even though he has grown up. My child and I still play the game. We still sing the song. We still talk about the story. And most recently the backpack has become a focus of our deeper discussions.   I was surprised and humbled that God had made His way into a funny song and story. Making me see that He is part of the story.   In the book, the backpack is something they open up when they face troubles. The backpack is something they carry wherever they go. They rely on the backpack always. Much like how Christians rely on God. ...
Read more