Program Aims to Help Patients Through Storytelling
By: Laine Baker
Updated: July 12, 2012
The old saying "a picture is worth a thousand words" takes on new meaning for social worker Brandi Schneider. She and four others are currently training in a program called Timeslips. It's a therapeutic story-telling program for Alzheimer's and dementia patients.
"It's to take the focus off what they have lost and focus on what they have left, and that is their creative ability to tell stories," Schneider said.
Facilitators show a picture, and then patients make up a story to go with it. It gets patients thinking, and helps build confidence.
"It gives the older people a sense of dignity instead of 'I can't remember this,'" she said.
The program also builds stronger relationships between caregivers and patients, as they create stories together.
"We are hoping to give people in facilities a different way to approach people with dementia," Schneider said. "It's isn't all about loss, the person has strengths to retain as well."
Once Schneider and her colleagues finish training they will go out into facilities and implement Timeslips, and teach the program to others. This is the first time the program will be used in Arkansas, and Schneider is hopeful it will help patients paint a happier picture of their lives living with memory loss.
For more information, go to: Schmieding Center.
"It's to take the focus off what they have lost and focus on what they have left, and that is their creative ability to tell stories," Schneider said.
Facilitators show a picture, and then patients make up a story to go with it. It gets patients thinking, and helps build confidence.
"It gives the older people a sense of dignity instead of 'I can't remember this,'" she said.
The program also builds stronger relationships between caregivers and patients, as they create stories together.
"We are hoping to give people in facilities a different way to approach people with dementia," Schneider said. "It's isn't all about loss, the person has strengths to retain as well."
Once Schneider and her colleagues finish training they will go out into facilities and implement Timeslips, and teach the program to others. This is the first time the program will be used in Arkansas, and Schneider is hopeful it will help patients paint a happier picture of their lives living with memory loss.
For more information, go to: Schmieding Center.
