A new outreach program in the Calgary area is providing another creative way to connect with isolated seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Storytelling Alberta, a non-profit organization that celebrates and honours the tradition of oral storytelling, has launched a program called Story Share, which sees volunteers perform oral stories to senior citizens over video chat and hear their stories in return.
Doreen Vanderstoop, the founder of Story Share and the project’s manager, said the idea originated after answering a request for proposal from the Calgary Senior's Resource Society in the fall of 2019. According to Vanderstoop, Storytelling Alberta’s proposal was for an in-home storytelling service for seniors living either by themselves or in retirement homes.
“We were accepted for our proposal, which was wonderful, and just when we were about to sign our contract and get the whole in-home thing started, the pandemic happened – as it did to so many people who were trying to do projects at that time," she said.
Fortunately, the pilot project was able to be adapted to a virtual setting, and Vanderstoop said the modified, online version of the pilot launched in May 2020.
“We began with one-on-one sessions. That includes a storyteller telling a story, delivering a story by phone or by video platform,” she said. “Then, the senior was invited to share a story of their own, if they'd like. Very often, that ends up being an anecdote from their lived history.”
In addition to the socialization aspect of the program, Vanderstoop said a volunteer would join in on the call, and at the end of the session, inquire if the senior has any immediate need that could be filled – for example, a grocery delivery, prescription delivery or if their home is in need of certain repair services.
“We have a list of resources that were compiled by Calgary Senior's Resource Society and added to by us and our volunteers that we can help connect seniors to, if they need it," Vanderstoop said.
The pilot project was successful, according to Vanderstoop, with about 120 seniors in Calgary taking part. After a successful pilot launch, she said Storytelling Alberta signed a contract with the Calgary Senior's Resource Society in October 2020 to continue delivering the program for 18 months.
Since then, Story Share has continued to be a hit among local seniors.
"What we've done since October is have a target of 120 between Oct. 1, 2020 and the end of December,” she said. “We had a target of 120 service deliveries – so basically, 120 engagements with isolated seniors. We achieved 150, so we way surpassed our expectations."
While the program's funding was initially just for Calgary, Vanderstoop said Storytelling Alberta has been able to reach seniors in some of the city’s outlying communities, including Airdrie.
Story Share is not the only program Storytelling Alberta has used to connect with isolated seniors during the pandemic. According to Vanderstoop, the non-profit society also conducts virtual sessions – called tell-arounds – that focus on storytelling in a group setting.
"Basically, it's a friendly outreach, but it's based on oral storytelling as an art form,” she said.
Storytelling Alberta also has the Legacy Project, which Vanderstoop said includes recording stories or interviews with senior clients and then showcasing them on the society’s YouTube channel as a way to honour and value their lived experienced.
She said storytelling provides a powerful way for people to connect with one another – which is crucial in a pandemic.
“If someone tells you a little bit about who they are or their life history, immediately you get more of a sense of who that person is, and it creates a very strong connection right away,” Vanderstoop said.
“That's what we're able to give people – in a very safe way, we're able to provide really strong connections, either with our story teller and volunteer in a one-on-one, or in an actual group setting. That's a way to connect and create a little bit bigger of a community for people who are isolated."
For more information on Story Share, visit storytellingalberta.com/aboutstoryshare
Scott Strasser, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @scottstrasser19
