Intergenerational storytelling can serve as a bridge between seniors and digitally obsessed younger generations. Storytelling is an art that crosses cultural and generational divides. In telling their stories, seniors are transferring wisdom, creating bonds, and giving the valuable gift of perspective. Today’s seniors have lived through much social upheaval and bring a unique viewpoint to our times. Today’s youth are currently living in a time of great upheaval and hearing stories about how previous generations coped with the challenges they faced can help the younger generation as they navigate their lives.
Benefits for Seniors
For seniors battling depression and or dementia, this social activity can have positive mental health outcomes. Remembering and sharing stories is not only helpful in memory retention, but can give a sense of purpose and importance. Seniors can feel comfortable telling a story about their youth, even if they have trouble coping with the details of their present life. The interaction with others as seniors tell their stories is a valuable social outlet. Seniors feel important when someone takes the time to ask them about their lives and listen and record their responses. Storytelling can celebrate accomplishments, resolve old disputes and bring joy. For those living with diminished physical abilities storytelling is a rewarding activity requiring minimal physical exertion.
Benefits for Listeners
Younger generations can learn about eras they have only read about in textbooks. History comes to life as seniors discuss their involvement in the historical events of their lives. Storytelling sessions can be of great benefit to caregivers as knowing some of what seniors have experienced can help caregivers understand some of the reasons behind senior reactions to present day events. Intergenerational storytelling also helps combat stereotypes related to ageism. Listeners learn to see senior adults as individuals with depth, humor, resilience, and wisdom.
Preparing for Storytelling Sessions
For those looking to interact with seniors in a storytelling activity, prepare questions you would like to ask.
Some suggestions to get you started include:
- What is your favorite holiday memory?
- Who is your role model and why?
- What is the most favorite trip you have taken?
- What is your favorite food?
Your initial question may naturally lead to follow up questions if the senior becomes enthused over a particular topic. Be prepared to let the senior take the lead if they have a lot of interest in one of the questions you have asked. In a one-on-one session think of your questions as conversation starters. Once the conversation gets rolling you may not need to ask any additional questions.
Collecting stories can be very informal. A family member who speaks regularly with a senior can ask a single question during each conversation. Family members who live at a distance can use storytelling as a point of connection. It is an opportunity to learn more family history and record the past events before they are lost to time. This is a chance to hear about stories that might not have come up in regular conversation. Time spent talking together can help heal any family rifts that may have built up over time and lead to greater understanding of family dynamics. Encouraging a family member to start telling a story can help to defuse a potentially stressful encounter.
For one-on-one conversations in a group care situation find a quiet private space to have your talk. Ask for permission to record your conversation. Record and write down the stories you are told. Transcribe the stories after the session so the storyteller can have your undivided attention. Offer to share the stories with friends and family members if the senior is interested in having others know their history. A great service project would be to compile stories from a particular community and create a website or publish a print volume to give to participants. These stories are important and deserve to be shared with a wider audience.
Sit facing each other, speak slowly and clearly with a good volume. Be prepared for the possibility of a very emotional exchange. Recalled stories may bring both joy and sorrow. Be careful not to pressure your teller. Learn to be comfortable with silence as storytellers collect their thoughts. Never try to correct anyone’s story. Even if time periods are confused or details incorrect, let the story flow, accuracy is not what is important. Let the individual’s recollection stand, the importance of the story lies in the teller’s emotional state and perceived experience. Limit the time on this activity to about an hour, because this process can be tiring and you want it to be enjoyable. Better to leave them wanting more than wondering if it will ever end. Be sure to thank your participants, letting them know that their insights are valuable and you have enjoyed the time you have spent together.
Group Sessions
Some organizations have started storytelling groups where interested seniors come together to share their stories in a group setting. Each meeting of the group might focus on a particular topic to get the conversation going. Letting participants know ahead of time the topic to be discussed allows them the time to remember particular episodes in their lives and observations from their past life. There are significant social benefits to this type of program. Seniors learn more about their companions and can share their own accomplishments, building self-confidence. They learn about the things they have in common and this helps to build a stronger community. Some seniors may be shy and prefer the one-on-one experience, but others may welcome the group setting with the opportunity to create stronger bonds within their community. The storytelling group can evolve into a writing group if the participants are so inclined.
Additional Resources
The organization Storycorps has lots of suggestions to help you plan and undertake a storytelling program in your area.
- https://storycorps.org
- https://www.storiavita.com/articles/the-healing-power-of-storytelling-mental-health-and-aging/
- Queen’s Gazette By Mary Ann McColl, Professor, School of Rehabilitation Therapy. January 19, 2023. https://www.queensu.ca/gazette/stories/storytelling-allows-elders-transfer-values-and-meaning-younger-generations
- Council on Aging of Central Oregon - How to Connect with Seniors by telling stories
- https://www.councilonaging.org/blog/connect-with-seniors-through-stories/
