TimeSlips: Connect through Creativity!
CHALLENGES The disjunction between What we want it to look like. What it really looks/feels like. Is less about buildings and more about relationships.
TimeSlips is‌ Evidence-based Person-centered Award-winning Joyful
ď‚–A non-profit that brings meaningful engagement to late life by infusing creativity into care relationships and systems
Art is a symbolic, emotional language, with no right or wrong. It enables us to join together to create meaning, beauty and purpose.
Why Creative Engagement ?
Separate programs?
We offer inspiration connection training/support to those bringing creative engagement to elders
SHARED IMAGINATION & EXPECTATION OF MEMORY/FACT
The Shift
EXPERIENCE EMOTIONAL, PHATIC COMMUNICATION WITH (not for)
How do we do all this?
Prompt (anything really…) Invite – any and everyone Open-ended (Beautiful) Questions
Simple Guidelines…
Echo and affirm all responses (movement, sound, words, images) (Proof of Listening)
Value and share – connect the storytellers to their larger world Enable pride in “giving back” – meaning/purpose
Prompts images, questions, sounds, objects
Improvational stories/collages/ poems
Running Water Silence Music ABBA You’ve got to have noise – just everyday noises Nothing too loud Buses, cars, everything
Write your story Publish (public) or simply save Collaborate Get help with questions – or not…
Be inspired‌ over 6,000 stories from all over the world 5,000 logged-in users
Be inspired‌ International network of Certified Facilitators and Master Trainers 42 states 13 countries
CCC Org Training Elders Organizational Training
Creative Community of Care
Staff at all levels
Family / Volunteers/ Neighbors
INFUSION into everyday relationships
Three Layers of Creative Engagement
PROGRAMS of co-creation (artist, staff, or volunteer lead) (creative storytelling) Long-term PROJECTS in collaboration with partnering organizations
Creative Care WI • 50 nursing homes • 6 museums (WI Creative Care Guide) • Touring performance/ exhibit and radio segments
Model Projects
Crossings
The Penelope Project
Attitude surveys for staff, volunteers
Evaluation Tools Evidence-base
Well-being assessment tool
Improves quality and quantity of engagement between staff and residents Fritsch et al 2009
Improves attitudes of service learning students (including medical students) Improves affect
Social Connectedness tool Improves communication
One-page “scan” following a creative session
Improves quality of life
FAMILIES “It’s like I didn’t lose my dad when I would sit in on his storytelling.” “She was proud to see her story featured with a local storytelling group. She got a great response and felt like a star.”
Testimonials
ELDERS “I feel so relaxed and calm when we’re storytelling” “This is the last important thing I will do in my life.”
STUDENTS I used to be afraid of old people with dementia. Now I realize they’re just human beings who want to be loved and feel a part of their world just like everyone else.”
STAFF/CAREGIVERS TimeSlips gave me extra tools to really reach my clients. It’s the most creative technique I ever used.”
www.timeslips.org