RICHMOND, Ky. — A group of eastern Kentucky seniors tilted their heads forward to view a slideshow projected on a screen at the local senior citizens center Tuesday morning — all part of a new program developed to introduce the widespread concept of cognitive poetry therapy to a local audience.

The slides, manned by Madison County, Kentucky, Public Library Outreach Services Coordinator Brandon Thompson, displayed scenes of yesteryear as the group participated in an activity called Timeslips.

Timeslips is a non-profit developed memory modality and recall program that the library will be utilizing, according to Thompson, as part of its Senior Wellness Series, which targets twelve areas of interest including movement and memory, safety and fall prevention, mental health, relationships, travel, designing window boxes and diabetes nutrition.

“It’s a whole lot of fun and it’s a great way to activate memories for senior citizens,” Thompson, who is certified to conduct the Timeslips activity, explained. “Originally, it was designed for Alzheimer’s patients, but obviously, anybody can do it. It’s just a lot more fun with our senior population because they can reflect and be nostalgic.”

The last piece of the puzzle, according to Thompson, is the creativity.

As the images pop onto the screen, the seniors were asked to call out their responses as Thompson typed their comments. What resulted is a unique form of poetry made up by the participants’ answers.

In studies and cases across the country, similar poetry exercises — referred to as poetry therapy or cognitive poetry therapy — have been proven helpful among elderly participants when it comes to mental health and activity.

The creative aspect was what drew Thompson, a writer, to add the activity to library programming.

Thompson said while the Timeslips program is enjoyable, it’s also tangible and gives the seniors something they can put their hands on, keep and have to remember in the form of a printed book he plans to bring back to each location the poetry-creating exercise is performed.

“I think creativity is linked to everything,” he said. “I think it’s linked to longevity, general happiness and satisfaction with your life, emotional wellbeing and physical wellbeing.”

Best of all, the activity takes place as a conversation and that’s when the magic happens as the seniors talk of life during war times, taking baths in washtubs and old-time music.

For Ruth Pherrell, one image of two nicely dressed ladies brought back memories of friends who were sisters and are long gone.

“I like bringing back the old memories I had as a child,” she said.

Thompson said, neurochemically, the activity realigns old pathways, making the program more than just fun but a way to build and boost memory.

King writes for the Richmond, Kentucky Register.