Celebrate Life: Empowering People with Dementia Through Play and Imagination
Living with dementia can be a challenging and isolating experience, not only for individuals with the condition but also for their caregivers and loved ones. However, there are innovative programs and initiatives that aim to improve the quality of life for people with dementia and create meaningful connections within their communities.
One such program is TimeSlips, a non-profit group founded by Anne Basting, PhD, that focuses on harnessing the creative abilities of older people with dementia through the end of life. TimeSlips uses storytelling and art-based activities to engage individuals with memory loss and provide them with opportunities for self-expression and social interaction.
Arts-based programs like TimeSlips have been shown to enhance the well-being and overall quality of life for people with varying degrees of dementia. These programs not only provide individuals with an avenue for creativity and self-expression but also offer a sense of joy, connection, and purpose.
Marla Cattermole, a storyteller who leads storytelling events at long-term care facilities, emphasizes the impact of TimeSlips on her work. She finds that storytelling with evocative pictures triggers memories and encourages participants to engage in the creation of a collective narrative. These sessions not only captivate the storytellers but also enable them to feel valued and respected for the skills and abilities they still possess.
Jim Mangi, a dedicated caregiver to his wife Kathleen who has Alzheimer’s disease, understands the transformative power of play and creativity. Through his non-profit organization in Saline, MI, Jim aims to help people with dementia live in their communities with less hardship and more dignity. He organizes memory cafes and partners with local cinemas to create inclusive social events that cater to individuals with memory loss.
At these memory cafes, Jim and his team use TimeSlips photos as a starting point for storytelling. The open-ended prompts allow individuals with dementia to use their imagination and create their own narratives. These storytelling sessions not only entertain but also provide a platform for individuals with memory loss to be heard, respected, and appreciated.
To further enhance the experience, caregivers and facilitators can ask “beautiful questions” that prompt imaginative responses. These questions allow individuals with dementia to freely express themselves and engage in meaningful conversations. The emphasis is not on remembering the past but on celebrating the present moment and the creativity that still shines through.
In addition to storytelling, other artistic activities can be incorporated into these programs. Drawing, singing, and playing music can spark joy and self-expression in individuals with dementia. By embracing these activities, caregivers and loved ones can further deepen their relationships with individuals with dementia and create joyful moments together.
Moreover, incorporating play and imagination into the daily lives of individuals with dementia can also help reduce confusion and frustration. By limiting closed questions and offering choices that encourage creativity, caregivers can empower individuals with dementia to exercise their imagination and feel a sense of control and agency.
The impact of these programs goes beyond the individual with dementia; they also provide a rewarding experience for caregivers, loved ones, and care workers. The opportunity to witness the creativity, joy, and connection that emerge from these sessions is deeply touching and rewarding for all involved.
In conclusion, programs like TimeSlips offer a powerful way to empower individuals with dementia, create connections within their communities, and celebrate the creativity and imagination that still exist within them. By incorporating play, storytelling, and art-based activities, caregivers and loved ones can uplift the spirits of individuals with dementia, enhance their quality of life, and deepen their relationships. Through these programs, individuals with dementia can be seen, heard, and valued for their unique abilities, reminding us all of the importance of embracing imagination and play in our lives.
Summary:
Living with dementia can be challenging, but innovative programs like TimeSlips provide opportunities for individuals with dementia to express themselves and connect with others through play and creativity. Through storytelling, art-based activities, and beautiful questions, individuals with dementia can engage in meaningful moments and feel valued for their skills and abilities. These programs not only improve the quality of life for people with dementia but also offer rewarding experiences for caregivers, loved ones, and care workers. By embracing imagination and play, individuals with dementia can find joy, connection, and purpose in their lives.
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Kathleen Schmidt can’t remember how to walk. Her ability to talk about herself is almost gone. And she has forgotten that, almost 50 years ago, she married the man who spends practically every afternoon with her.
“But whoever she thinks I am, she likes me,” says her husband, Jim Mangi. “And she lights up when she walks into the room.”
Schmidt, 74, was diagnosed with Alzheimer disease in his 50s. In 2016, the two moved into a senior community, where Kathleen now receives professional help at the community’s memory support center.
In addition to caring for Kathleen, Jim, 75, runs Saline solution suitable for dementia, a non-profit organization in Saline, MI, that aims to help people with dementia live in their communities with less hardship and more dignity. He is also a volunteer educator for the Alzheimer’s Association.
Their goal: to empower people with dementia to use their imagination and current abilities so that they and their carers can learn from each other, have fun and feel valued in the community.
Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia bring many changes and complications. Still, play can bring joy and meaning to people with memory loss, says Anne Basting, PhD, founder of time slipsa non-profit group that trains caregivers and systems of care on how to harness the creative abilities of older people through the end of life.
“These are people who have lived full lives,” Basting says. “And powerful things come out of these jam sessions. It’s really touching, pointed and hilarious.”
Arts-based programs like TimeSlips can improve the quality of life for people with varying degrees of dementia, research shows. It is also rewarding for caregivers, loved ones, and care workers.
Marla Cattermole, 64, works for the Dauphin County Library System in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. As part of her outreach, she leads storytelling events at long-term care facilities. TimeSlips is only a small part of her work, “but it’s what I look forward to the most,” says Cattermole.
First, he gives everyone a picture, usually showing children or animals. These images tend to be the most compelling and are likely to trigger memories from long ago, Cattermole says, though remembering the past isn’t the goal.
Then, he asks the group to tell him what is happening in the photo. What could you smell and hear in that scene?
Cattermole assures everyone that there is no wrong answer and gives each person a chance to respond. Even when people say something that seems totally irrelevant, Cattermole says, it still gets into the story.
From time to time, he stops and rereads the story. “Some people get very animated,” Cattermole says, “and they’re a lot of fun.”
One of the things Mangi does through his non-profit organization is to host a “memory cafe.” It’s an event, not a real cafe like a coffee shop. Jim calls his memory cafe the “Come As You Are” cafe, twice a month in the social hall of a local church.
At a cafe in recent memory, Jim’s group used a TimeSlips photo of a large man playing a violin next to a small man in green, with a pot of coins in the distance.
Here’s a snippet from the story the group told: A man named Frank lost a bet to a leprechaun. Frank made the bet because her daughter was sick and he needed to take care of her. They are interrupted by a group of gnome cousins.
The story starts from there.
“It’s so beautiful to see people with dementia, some of whom aren’t particularly vocal, really getting into the story and having input about what happens next,” says Mangi. “They feel respected for the skills they still have rather than being neglected for the skills they’ve lost.”
You can reduce the daily confusion of people with dementia by limiting their options. For example, would you like a ham sandwich or mac and cheese for lunch? Do you want to take a walk or watch television this afternoon?
But closed questions may not generate meaningful moments. That requires a different approach.
Basting uses what she calls “beautiful questions,” which are open-ended prompts with no right or wrong answers that it’s okay to make things up. For example:
- What advice do you wish someone had given you?
- what do you hear
- If you had the ability to fly, where would you go?
- What superpower do you want?
You can add another artistic activity, such as asking them to draw themselves as superheroes or playing music and asking them to sing or add their own sound.
Mangi also partners with a local cinema for special screenings. movies like Singing in the rain play with the lights on and the sound off. Mangi encourages everyone to have fun. Some people clap, sing, sway in their seats, or get up and dance.
“We have food, we have a door prize. It’s a great event,” says Mangi. “One wife said it was great to see her husband feel visible again. One adult daughter said that her mother had the time of her life because she felt that she belonged there.
You can find social events geared toward people with memory loss through resources like:
- Memory cafes in your area with meetings online or in person
- Creative Communities of Attention via TimeSlips.org
- Local libraries or art and culture centers.
- The spark! alliance
- happy society (from Alzheimer’s Association)
For more home ideas and resources, visit the Creativity Center on the TimeSlips website.
The next time Mangi sees Kathleen, he won’t ask her to remember him. He will take her for a ride outside in her wheelchair if the weather is nice. Inside, he can turn up the volume on his favorite Motown classics or put on a “very over-the-top, colorful” movie musical like Moulin Rouge either The sound of the music.
Whatever they do, Mangi welcomes any opportunity to enjoy Kathleen’s company a little more. He celebrates her without focusing too much on her abilities that she has lost. He says that he has deepened his relationship with his wife.
“I helped her get dressed and clean up the mess and all that,” Mangi says. “But what a small price to pay for being so much closer, so much more in love with my best friend.”
Related: Better daily living for a loved one with Alzheimer’s
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