The Company of Friends:
Learning from Family Caregivers
The stories and poetry of dozens of family caregivers appear in the book, This Little Light of Mine originally published in 2008 by the McMaster Center for Gerontological Research at McMaster University, Ontario CA.
Click on the link below to view a slide show of Richard and Eleanore Kosydar’s original color photographs featured in This Little Light of Mine, along with lines and quotes from family caregivers’ poetry and prose.
On any slide, clicking on the author's name will take you to the complete story or poem, as it appears in the book.
Go to “LINKS” on the menu bar and click on “books” / This Little Light of Mine to download a pdf copy of the book. Click on The Dundas Valley: Visions of Beauty to order your own copy of Kosydars' coffee-table book of photographs.
Click on the link below to view a slide show of Richard and Eleanore Kosydar’s original color photographs featured in This Little Light of Mine, along with lines and quotes from family caregivers’ poetry and prose.
On any slide, clicking on the author's name will take you to the complete story or poem, as it appears in the book.
Go to “LINKS” on the menu bar and click on “books” / This Little Light of Mine to download a pdf copy of the book. Click on The Dundas Valley: Visions of Beauty to order your own copy of Kosydars' coffee-table book of photographs.
"This Little Light of Mine"
Asking for Help Through Story
These are the notes Kathleen Banchoff uses when she speaks publicly about her life as a family caregiver, and her work offering storytelling practice sessions for family caregivers.
In her notes, Banchoff tells stories about her own experiences as a caregiver, and invites listeners to see themselves in the stories she tells, as well as to see the stories in everyone's caregiving experiences. She also outlines her basic principles for developing 2-minute stories, and techniques she’s learned for crafting and performing them.
Click on the link below to download Banchoff’s notes as a pdf file.
Go to “LINKS” on the menu bar and click on “books” / Passing on the Blessing to download a pdf copy of Banchoff’s book of stories.
In her notes, Banchoff tells stories about her own experiences as a caregiver, and invites listeners to see themselves in the stories she tells, as well as to see the stories in everyone's caregiving experiences. She also outlines her basic principles for developing 2-minute stories, and techniques she’s learned for crafting and performing them.
Click on the link below to download Banchoff’s notes as a pdf file.
Go to “LINKS” on the menu bar and click on “books” / Passing on the Blessing to download a pdf copy of Banchoff’s book of stories.
"Passing on the Blessing"
Finding the Smile Workshops
Banchoff's “Finding the Smile” workshops employ storytelling as a strategy. She teaches caregivers how to enjoy getting a positive response – a smile, a laugh, a nod of recognition – to stories about their lives as caregivers.
Workshop participants spend the best part of a Finding the Smile workshop in practice rounds telling their 2-minute stories, and listening to other caregivers tell theirs.
A round consists of family caregivers working in partnerships, taking turns telling their own timed, 2-minute story and listening to their partner's timed, 2-minute story. Each one gives and receives feedback from the partner on what works best in their story.
Click on the link below to download Banchoff's materials for moderators (group process notes and instructions) and participants (handouts).
Workshop participants spend the best part of a Finding the Smile workshop in practice rounds telling their 2-minute stories, and listening to other caregivers tell theirs.
A round consists of family caregivers working in partnerships, taking turns telling their own timed, 2-minute story and listening to their partner's timed, 2-minute story. Each one gives and receives feedback from the partner on what works best in their story.
Click on the link below to download Banchoff's materials for moderators (group process notes and instructions) and participants (handouts).