EMU Today

YPSILANTI – Engage@EMU has formed a partnership with non-profit organization, TimeSlips. For the first time at Eastern Michigan University, Engage@EMU is offering training through TimeSlips to faculty, staff, students, and select community members. Participants will learn engagement techniques that assist in building meaningful moments of connection with older adults, specifically those experiencing dementia or cognitive impairment through creative storytelling. 

“We are offering training to faculty and staff so that they can integrate TimeSlips into their coursework, curriculums, and programming,” said Tyler Calhoun, communications and operations coordinator of Engage@EMU. “Our goal is to equip students with tools they can use now and when they leave EMU, and for faculty to find meaningful ways to integrate this into the work they already do.” 

TimeSlips aims to change the way we understand and experience aging by bringing young people into positive relationships with elders, enabling family members to have meaningful, emotional connections, and infusing creativity into their care systems to inspire staff to feed their creativity inviting elders to imagine and express themselves. 

In the past, techniques have been implemented through EMU’s Applied Theatre classes taught by director of Engage@EMU, Decky Alexander. Alexander directed students to undergo the TimeSlips training to continue implementing the learned techniques across campus and beyond. 

Engage@EMU was created to cultivate relationships by initiating and/or coordinating community and business partnerships and programs. Partnerships such as the one with TimeSlips provide opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to get into the community and learn beyond the classroom. 

Through TimeSlips training faculty and students will learn facilitation techniques like echoing and repetition to reinforce and affirm participant engagement. They will also learn how to navigate challenges that may arise and a host of other tools that are essential to TimeSlips facilitation. 

Engage@EMU is providing opportunities for participants to practice their training with the community at the Ypsi Senior Center from 12:30 - 2 p.m. on March 31, April 7, and April 14. 

For EMU faculty, staff, and students who are interested in learning more about training, email emu_engage@emich.edu. For older adults interested in attending a workshop, sign up by calling (734) 483-5014. 

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 16,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and, its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.