TimeSlips

Creative Aging

Ian Bannon, Teaching Artist, from Figures of Speech and Celebration Barn, trying out the TimeSlips techniques

One week ago the Maine Arts Commission (MAC) provided a fabulous professional development opportunity through TimeSlips. You might be wondering, what the heck is TimeSlips?!

Taken from their website: TimeSlips is an open, poetic language of improvisational storytelling which invites people with memory loss to express themselves and connect with others.  TimeSlips brings meaning to long term care.

Before the workshop the 20 participants, which was a combination of  artists, professionals from the health care field, MAC staff, and caregivers prepared themselves by accessing online training modules. I was fortunate to participate and found myself very ready and excited to attend the all day workshop after doing my online homework. And, I am very impressed with the program. Joan Williamson from TimeSlips traveled from Milwaukee, WI the home of TimeSlips, to provide the training at UNE in Portland.

After we participated in some exercises we traveled to The Park Danforth, a nearby elder living facility, to try out the TimeSlips process. It was wonderful to see TimeSlips in action and Ian Bannon from Figures of Speech Theatre and Celebration Barn volunteered to try it out. He was awesome! Often the participants break into song when something in the story leads to that and we saw two examples of that during the process.

This opportunity is part of the MAC Creative Aging program which is administered by Kathleen Mundell. You can learn more at https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Traditional/CreativeAging#. Included in the program is a Teaching Artist Roster for those interested in working with older adults. Don’t hesitate to contact Kathleen at kathleen.mundell@maine.gov about the Creative Aging program or TimeSlips, if you have questions.

Ian in action

More Info on TimeSlips

TimeSlips is a non-profit that aims to:

• Improve the lives of people with memory loss through creative engagement
• Reach a day when creative engagement is standard practice for all levels of care

TimeSlips offers:

• Certification to Individuals and Organizations in creative engagement with people with memory loss
• Consulting on creating sustainable partnerships and structures to support creative engagement
• Resources for those dedicated to transforming dementia care through creative engagement

If you’d like to learn more about TimeSlips please click HERE.