The Process

TimeSlips marks a fundamental shift away from focusing on memory and reminiscence, and toward encouraging people with memory loss to exercise their imaginations and creativity.

TimeSlips is a group process that is used in all types of settings; including adult day services, senior centers, memory clubs, support groups, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living, and intergenerational groups.

Facilitators ask open-ended questions about a provocative image and weave all responses (verbal or gestural) into a story.  Storytelling sessions can last up to an hour, and typically involve 6-12 people with memory loss.  The process works well with groups of people at all levels of cognitive challenge -- from no challenges at all (family or staff groups) to late stages of dementia. One facilitator or a team of facilitators can lead the sessions.  We've found TimeSlips to be an excellent way to build teamwork among staff, be they direct care workers, housekeeping staff, chaplins, nutrition staff, activity staff, social workers, nurses, or administrators.

Research shows that TimeSlips storytelling sessions improve the quality and quantity of interactions between staff and residents with dementia, and improve staff attitudes toward working with people with dementia.  Smaller studies tell us that TimeSlips improved communication skills among people with dementia, and attitudes toward people with dementia among family and student volunteers.