With Rumpelstiltskin and Co. against forgetfulness: Professionally read aloud fairy tales can have a positive influence on dementia patients according to studies of the past nine years. How reading aloud activates seniors is demonstrated by the findings of the project „Once upon a time…FALES AND DEMENTIA“.
„Once upon a time…“: study on the effect of fairy tales on seniors
„Once upon a time…“ – Young and old alike associate the stories of the Brothers Grimm with this phrase. The phrase ties in with our earliest childhood memories, such as Dad reading to us at bedtime or practicing reading with Grandma in the garden. Thus, the topic of „fairy tales“ becomes interesting for memory work with seniors. „We have been dealing with the topic of fairy tales and dementia since 2012,“ says Silke Fischer, managing director of „Märchenland,“ in the educational video about the project. Märchenland conducted a study called „Once upon a time…FALES AND DEMENTIA“ for four years on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Family Affairs. In the process, the team researched, among other things, how professional, regular fairy tale telling affects seniors with dementia. Since then, Märchenland has been implementing the project, which is financed by the nursing care insurance fund, in senior citizens‘ facilities throughout Germany and also trains nursing and care staff to become fairy tale readers.
Fairy tales as therapy: Experiencing with all the senses
Fairy tale therapy for people with dementia focuses on stimulating several senses at the same time. To this end, the dementia storytellers in golden coats regularly come to the nursing homes and read from a 300-page book. The aim of the reading session is not just to listen. True to the motto „See – Hear – Paint – Play,“ the fairy tales heard can be followed up with memories or coloring pictures. Quasi, fairy tales with all senses experience. „With Snow White, there is a memory game, an audio CD and a feature film. The whole thing is complemented by a very nice book to read aloud. And for all seniors who like to color, there are coloring sheets,“ Fischer said.
In the pandemic, Märchenland has once again optimized the project so that it can also work remotely. All senior facilities then need are eight sticks with recorded fairy tale stories, as well as the appropriate boxes for processing and editing the stories. As usual, the virtual story hour takes place once a week in small groups. Nothing changes in the approach or the effect on the seniors.
Results: With fairy tales against dementia?
The results speak for themselves. The regular reading aloud of well-known stories – from Snow White, to Frau Holle, to the Golden Goose – brings with it a feel-good factor. „More than half actively participated in the intervention, with more than two-thirds recognizably experiencing the event as positive,“ the study’s evaluation states. The often apathetic, withdrawn dementia patients interact actively and with pleasure. „Restlessness and anxious apprehension are minimized. Aggression is not observed,“ the final report says.
„The measure has the effect of strengthening cognitive abilities, for example,“ says the managing director of „Märchenland.“ Transferred to the seniors suffering from dementia, this means: Fairy tales can promote mentally and represent a beneficial change in case of mental stress. Reading supports the community as well as social interactions. These neglect dementia-changed unconsciously. Thus, the stories can even prevent loneliness and depression.
„Fairy tales are not miracle healers, but they provide a low-threshold and emotional access,“ says the study’s final report. In short, fairy tales do not cure dementia. But they help for a brief moment in symptom relief of the widespread disease. For example, the stories cause the listeners to remember text formulas and speak them along. Or remember situations related to the fairy tales. Through comments such as „Just like I was told by my dad back in the day“ or „I read this to my siblings,“ the study participants with dementia actively draw attention to their memories. The associated feelings trigger a sense of security and well-being. „You can see it in the faces, the smiles and the eyes,“ reports one professional involved in the study.
