After Jane’s sessions residents were relaxed and animated, expressing how much they enjoyed the stories and the characters in the stories a feeling which would carry over to the next day and for some over the course of the week, a happy hangover.

Marion Drurie, Activities Co-ordinator – Cluny Lodge Care Home

I offer relaxed, inclusive storytelling sessions suitable for people with dementia and their carers.

And have included work with the Scottish Storytelling Centre, the National Library of Scotland’s Socials, Capital Theatre’s, older peoples day services, and care homes.

Sessions for older audiences include stories and songs and allow time for reminiscences, sometimes gentle craft activities, and centre around themes such as:

Holidays, working life, parenthood, Sports, hobbies and leisure activities. They may connect with cultural or natural heritage themes, seasonal festivals, traditions and celebrations.

Sessions give participants an opportunity to:

Engage in meaningful activity with others

Socialise 

Reminisce 

Share life experiences and stories

Explore creativity 

Sessions blend traditional stories and popular songs or rhymes, and may use of visual props, scents, and tactile objects to engage the senses, prompt discussion, stimulate memories and facilitate meaningful human connection.

Participation reduces isolation, lifts participants’ spirits and supports increased confidence and self-esteem. 

So many of our members remarked on how your stories stirred up nice memories of being read to when they were young and how you made them connect with and live each story you told 

Leanne McNeill, Manager – Lochend Neighbourhood Centre

Between 2013 -2019 I worked with ElderWise, a group of Scottish storytellers specialising in reminiscence and storytelling with older people.