TimeSlips
TimeSlips, developed by Anne Basting (PhD) in 1998, is a creative storytelling method that helps people with mid to late stage dementia reaffirm their humanity and connect with staff, family, and friends. Rather than pressure people with dementia to remember, TimeSlips encourages them to cultivate their imaginations. Training in TimeSlips is offered to staff working in long-term care facilities as well as individual caregivers that serve elders with dementia. Using a storytelling framework that makes space for contributions from all participants, sessions begin as facilitators greet participants individually, and then show the assembled “storytellers” whimsical, theatrical, provocative photographs. Program facilitators then ask the group members open-ended questions about the images. Even seemingly “nonsensical” responses advance the story, which is re-read after every four or five answers to establish momentum and remind the storytellers of what they’ve created so far. The telling format involves crediting individuals for their contributions as the tale builds. No narrative logic is necessary for a story to express the humor, desires, and sometimes the sadness of participants. The stories are recorded, to share with other facility staff and families of participants.
