Using sensory stories with individuals with dementia

A ‘sensory story’ is a concise narrative in which each section of the text is partnered with a relevant sensory experience, each story typically targeting a broad range of senses. Story experiencers may engage with the narrative through the text, the stimuli, or both; no part has dominance. Individuals with limited understanding of language can therefore be included in storytelling and its benefits for well-being and cognition (Grace 2014; Lacey 2006).

Sensory perceptions are key to memory formation (Bogdashina 2003) and repeating a sensory experience reinforces neural pathways (Grace 2014; Longhorn 2011). Accordingly, when sensory stories are told consistently over time, listeners’ responses increase (Brug et al 2012; PAMIS 2002, 2006, 2010; Penne et al 2012).

Sensory stories were originally created to support individuals with profound disabilities (Deonarain 2010; Fuller 2013; Grove 1998; Lacey 2006; PAMIS

2002; Park 2004; Taylor 2006; Young & Lambe 2011) and have since been used effectively with individuals with a range of needs. This paper explores their application in the field of dementia.

Narrative and sensory interventions

Sensory loss associated with ageing is exacerbated by dementia (Bakker 2003). Individuals with dementia are especially vulnerable to sensory deprivation, as difficulties with communication and mobility create barriers to accessing desired activities (Baker et al 2003). Symptoms of sensory deprivation – irritability, confusion, disorientation, lethargy and hallucinations – are common in later stage dementia (Collier 2007). Providing appropriate sensory stimulation is therefore crucial (Baker et al 2003).

Though common in learning disability services, the use of sensory stories in dementia care is not reported in the literature and appears to be a novel approach. Other narrative and sensory interventions are used with both populations:

• Life story work benefits individuals with dementia and/ or learning disability and their carers (Hewitt 2006; Kindell et al 2014; McKeown et al 2015).
• Multisensory prompts for communication support individuals with learning disability and dementia to transition between activities and experience reduced anxiety (Gohnson & Elliot 2006, 2008).
• Multisensory environments, frequently used with individuals with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD), became popular in dementia care in the 1990s (Baker et al 2003; Hope & Waterman 2004).

Individuals with PMLD and dementia are certainly not a homogeneous group, but this overlap in approaches reflects the fact that both populations are vulnerable to sensory deprivation (Baker et al 2003; Bauer et al 2015; Fowler 2007; Grace 2014) and have an increased need for non­verbal communication (Ellis & Astell 2008; Mansell 2010; Mencap 2014). The parallels suggest that ‘what works’ in sensory storytelling for people with PMLD could be beneficial in dementia. Through exploring this in practice, we have developed two approaches: personalised sensory life stories and group sensory storytelling.

Sensory life stories

Traditional life stories are usually books (Kindell et al 2014; McKeown et al 2006) but other formats exist. They may incorporate photos, documents, objects or music (Hewitt 2006) and are thus experienced via multiple senses. However, they may “… lack a multisensory and embodied dimension that requires further exploration in research and practice” (Kindell et al 2014 p158). So, since 2013, we have had a multisensory focus, implementing sensory life stories with individuals with dementia.

In the format we have created (see 1), between eight and 10 key events are drawn from a traditional life story and each is recreated as a concise sentence with an accompanying sensory experience. Chronological order is maintained.

1. Sentences and sensory experiences: a story across the lifespan

“We got married in 1947 and I wore my Royal Navy uniform” (visual stimulus: blue fabric with three white stripes).

“At gymnastics we had to put chalk dust on our hands to use the bars” (tactile stimulus: chalk dust on hands).

In a second format (see 2), one specific memory (perhaps a favourite, memorable event) is retold in eight-10 sentence I stimuli pairs. Reggie*, for example, has a story about how his passion for art began with winning a school competition. In both cases, an identity-reaffirming narrative is told through sensory experiences.

2. Sentences and sensory experiences: a story of one memory

“Walter copied a caption: ‘Fry’s chocolate, delicious and nourishing’ ” (taste/ smell stimulus: chocolate on tongue or chocolate lip balm).

“Painting takes Walter into his own little world of concentration and rhythm” (tactile/kinaesthetic stimulus: rhythmical sweeping of soft paintbrush on forearm or paper).

Most families have chosen to start with a traditional life story, from which one or more sensory stories are then developed. But where the dementia is more advanced, families may choose to start with the sensory format, given its non­ verbal emphasis.

Involving people with dementia in life story work is complex (McKeown et al 2015). The sensory approach may result in a genuinely joint endeavour between individuals with the condition and practitioners or carers to identify appropriate sensory experiences as ways other than verbal communication to create sensory stories. Even in the later stages, the person’s responses to different stimuli may facilitate ‘co­production’ of this kind. Harry* and his wife worked together to identify smells that triggered holiday memories. In exploring sun creams, they discovered that massaging his arms with the cream increased his responses – the multisensory, tactile element and the physical actions associated with the event were a stronger connection than the smell alone.

The multisensory narrative may retain its impact through the various stages of dementia as verbal understanding decreases. Marian* and her husband paired a piece of music with a sentence about their 1940s’ dancing. She described him moving his feet upon hearing the music within the story, as he communicated “I remember dancing with you” without words. Perhaps experiencing the music in the context of his life history was important.

Re-telling a sensory life story as dementia progresses should maintain the familiarity and predictability of the stimuli. Marian reads her husband’s story to him every morning as part of their routine and believes he feels calmer with this familiar start to each day.

Sensory life stories also empower individuals with dementia to tell their stories, because they can be told effectively without relying on words. This may encourage confidence in ‘total communication’, strategies using multiple modes of communication which value non-speech forms (Jones 2000) and increase communicative effectiveness in people with dementia (Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists 2013).

Telling a story creates opportunities for connecting with others. For example, Mary* (who created a story about her career in the post office) wished she had had her story when her children were young, so that she might have shared her memories in a way she felt would interest them. This reflection gave her courage to tell it to her grandchildren despite significant difficulties using verbal communication.

Finally, Edward’s* wife viewed the process as something she could do to help. The shared goal of identifying stimuli provided a purposeful focus. Sensory life stories can empower the individual with dementia and the people around them.

Group sensory storytelling

Sensory stories can be implemented as a group activity in dementia care settings. Such settings generally utilise various group activities and multisensory approaches, but sensory storytelling might address some of the shortcomings of existing approaches.

Multisensory environments can promote well-being by offering opportunities to communicate through the senses rather than language (Pagliano 2008) but they may fail to offer appropriate contexts for the sensory experiences, resulting in a lack of satisfaction and under-use (Jakob & Collier 2014). A sensory story on a familiar topic offers both sensory experiences and a meaningful context related to life beyond the care environment.

Social group activities, such as gardening or baking, have sensory elements and reminiscence therapy exploits multiple senses on the basis that sensory stimuli can trigger memories (Schweitzer & Bruce 2008). However, active participation in these activities may be limited for people with more severe dementia. By contrast, experiencing a sensory story does not require active recall of past events (as reminiscence therapy may) or physical and/or verbal participation (as most social group activities do). Furthermore, sensory stories can be tailored to meet the sensory preferences and cognitive skills of the individuals in the group.

The start of an activity session can be disorientating for someone with dementia; for example, they may have to move to a different area and wait for other group members to arrive, which can create anxiety. On the other hand, the repeated use of a sensory story as a predictable part of a reminiscence or activity session could help to build familiarity and reduce anxiety.

A sensory story on a generic topic such as holidays or celebrations may trigger memories for group members and encourage them to share their own stories and have these validated. Indeed, research has shown that simply being included in the storytelling space supports individuals to be braver, more able to cope with experiences that would usually be challenging, and to feel more connected with those who share the space with them (Grace 2014). This may be particularly important for people living in long­term care facilities who become emotionally vulnerable due to losing links to their personal and cultural past (Chaudhury 2003). 

Wildlife in the City: a case example

The sensory story Wildlife in the city was written for, and shared with, eight residents of a central London care home who have moderate dementia and participate in weekly gardening group sessions. The story was shared at the start of each gardening session, providing structure and promoting understanding of what would take place. Seeing the sensory stimuli laid out became a visual cue for group members as they arrived. For one group member, wandering behaviour at the start of the sessions appeared less marked.

Specific sensory experiences promoted relaxation and the repetition of these experiences increased awareness and attention. The birdsong at the close of the story was played for as long as all group members appeared fully engaged in the experience. During the first session, it was played for around 15 seconds; by the sixth session, it had increased to over a minute. Group members said they found the birdsong “peaceful” and “lovely”.

Observations suggested they appreciated the opportunity to engage in the present moment without pressure to participate or respond in a particular way.

The content of the story stimulated memories and gave rise to conversation. Group members initiated discussion about the smells and sensations they had liked and disliked, which naturally led into reminiscences and sharing of memories with the group.

This example highlights how group sensory storytelling can provide appropriate, contextual sensory stimulation and structure social group activities. This may support communication, interaction and reminiscence, and reduce experiences of anxiety and isolation.

What next?

Although we have only introduced sensory stories with individuals with dementia on a very small scale, observations and feedback are encouraging and they appear to be one way of providing appropriate sensory stimulation for people with dementia.

However, our clinical experiences over the last three years are insufficient to comment on long­term outcomes and are not representative of the range of settings in which sensory stories could be trialled. Wider use and formal research are required to fully explore the experiences and outcomes of this form of storytelling for people with dementia and their carers.

Rebecca Leighton

Rebecca Leighton is a specialist speech and language therapist, elenbi-uk and Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust in UK.

Coralie Oddie

Coralie Oddie is a student speech and language therapist and founder of ReminiSense, a project providing group sensory storytelling.

Joanna Grace

Joanna Grace is a special educational needs and disabilities consultant and founder of the Sensory Project.