You’d think that being a writer would be all the excitement a senior could want. Unfortunately, life can snarl up all the good things in its path, and for some seniors, that’s writing.
Whether through dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or some other form of memory loss, writing has been shown to improve cognitive function in older adults. It’s a great way to keep your mind active, and it’s something that the entire family can enjoy. A senior who loves to write will hopefully enjoy this retirement stage as much as other seniors did the earlier stages of their lives.
Here’s how you can get started.
Find Local Supportive Organizations
You can’t expect to be able to teach creative writing to someone who has no interest in it, and the reverse is equally true. To maximize the potential of your lessons, you need to find organizations in your area that are supportive of seniors and creative writing. Look for any organizations that help seniors find community, and you’ll be able to find a few organizations that promote the creative side as well.
Visit their websites and social media accounts to get an idea of what they’re about. If possible, attend a few events to see how they interact with the public and to get a sense of their vibe. Are they friendly and approachable, or are they more like a religious cult and keep a distance from the general public?
Create A Comfortable Learning Environment
When training a dog, you wouldn’t normally use a punishing approach. You’d want to find a way to teach your canine companion non-violent communication, and you’d want to do it in a way that they understand. The same goes for teaching a senior to write creatively. You want to create a pleasant environment which encourages them to learn and relax, and to put their worries aside for long enough to focus on their creative side.
There are several things you can do to make this easier. First, if possible, find a quiet, somewhat secluded space. The fewer distractions, the better. You could give your student a small notebook to write in during class, or you could give them a tablet specifically designed for writers to use while studying. These will both help to eliminate unnecessary distractions. If there isn’t a good amount of natural light coming in through windows, consider investing in LED light strips or a lamp so that they have light when they need it but aren’t dependent on outside sources of light.
Dress Appropriately
When teaching an adult to write, you usually want to teach them how to write in an ergonomic position. This ensures that your student will be able to write for long periods of time without becoming physically disabled by pain. The same goes for teaching seniors to write creatively. When you’re teaching them how to write, sitting in a comfortable chair with a straight back is essential so that your student can keep their back straight while they write. When selecting a chair, make sure that it’s tall enough for the student to be able to see the entire screen while they type, but not so high that it becomes uncomfortable when seated.
If your student is getting frustrated by their lack of progress, perhaps it’s time to take a step back and review. Are they having trouble keeping up with the material, or are they having trouble finding the right words to express themselves? Take some time to review what they’ve written so far, and try to pinpoint the specific areas where they’re having trouble. If you think that it’s dementia, then seek the help of a professional who can help diagnose the issue and get them back on track.
Find The Right Books
You’re using a book to teach writing, so it’s only natural that you’d want to find a couple of good books on the topic. In the same way you’d choose a dog’s training literature to begin with, you want to start with easy, do-able tasks which will inspire your student’s interest. From there, you can move onto more complex writing tasks. To best replicate the experience of an in-person writing lesson, choose books which can be read electronically. This gives you the flexibility to change the text, rewind, fast forward, and pause as you see fit. It also means that you can study the text at your convenience, making it much easier to learn and retain what you’re presented with. The same goes for creative writing with the added bonus of allowing your student to follow along as you write, effectively removing the need to have someone else read the composition out loud.
Get Help From The Experts
No one is an expert in every subject they teach, and that’s especially true when it comes to teaching writing to seniors. To best replicate the experience of an in-person writing lesson, you want to find someone who has experience teaching the written word to seniors. If possible, find someone who has experience teaching creative writing.
By seeking help from experts, you’re ensuring that you’re getting the best possible training available. Having an expert on hand to help with any problems that may arise is invaluable, and it can help to eliminate the frustrations that come with trying to teach this new skill to someone who is untrained.
Be Careful Whose Feedback You Listen To
Many experts will tell you to look for student feedback when trying to determine how effective your training program is. However, you need to be careful about what you’re reading, as good feedback can be disguised as bad. For example, if you’re going through a teacher-training program, you’ll inevitably come across some students who aren’t doing very well. Their feedback may tell you that your lessons are too difficult and that you should lower the bar a little, or it may say that your lessons are excellent and that they’re over-performing.
In all likelihood, this is unintentional on their part. They’re simply trying to help, but because of their inexperience, they don’t know how to effectively communicate what they’re trying to say. When reading student feedback, look for patterns in the comments. Is the majority of the feedback bad, or is it all good? This will give you an idea of what’s going on, and whether or not you should actually be listening to what they have to say.
Avoid Rushing The Process
One of the major causes of failed writing attempts is impatience. When you’re rushing the process, you won’t be able to ensure that you’re doing everything in the right order, and this can lead to your narrative becoming incomprehensible. When teaching writing to seniors, you want to find a way to make the process as easy as possible for them. This can be done by taking the time to go over each step of the way, making sure that they understand exactly what they’re supposed to be doing. They’ll have to try a few times before getting the hang of it, but you shouldn’t rush them. Instead, take the time to help them find the right words, and show them how to use them effectively. If you think that it’s dementia, then seek the help of a professional who can diagnose the issue and get them back on track.