Reflection – Storytelling

Author: Jean Pierre Jouanne

Challenge & Application

I am currently working in France in retirement homes called The Coca-Cola. During my working time, I greatly  interact with senior people. While taking this class, I realize that I use Storytelling on a daily basis.  Module 2 of the class introduce a concept that I love and that can be easily implementable while I try to  solve resident’s problems and anxiety issues. I describe myself as an open-minded person that can easily  share lives stories with senior residents. By listening to their concerns, it helps me visualizing areas to  improve and start my thinking process in order to develop new strategies. By applying this strategy, I am  able to improve their satisfaction levels on many different levels (canteen repartition, reorganization of  visits time and so on …).

Application

My story, I think, will talk to everyone reading this paper. During the difficult context on the crisis we are  all facing, the badly famous COVID-19, I was able to use storytelling to comfort the elderly people I’m  working with. During this stress-generating times, I was in charge of developing and addressing elderly  people needs. At the management meeting, the director of the center wanted to apply rules dictated by  our government strictly. I took a stand, explaining to the director that the situation needs to be  addressed differently while still addressing rules dictated by our national leaders. Then, I told them the  story of this old lady in the residence. This particular lady was especially impacted by this sanitary crisis,  she wasn’t sick, she was simply afraid about the consequences of sanitary restrictions. I took the time to  sit down and listen to her concerns. She explained me that she wasn’t necessarily scared of being  contaminated, even though she knew it could be fatal for her. What was worrying her, was to fact of  being left alone in her room without any human interaction. She obviously needed attention from us  more than medical treatments. Thereafter, I opened up to her by confessing that the situation also had  a negative impact on myself. Simply the fact of opening up to this person, made her realize that we were  in same situation and that I would be here to support her even during this crisis.

Approach & Feedback

This story might sound straight forward, and it was for me too. However, after, listening and learning  from the class material, I realize the multiple applications for the storytelling tool. After talking to this  old charming person, it made me realize that the straight forward application of sanitary restrictions  could not be applied in our retirement house. Elderly residents should have a say on how to apply those  life saving restrictions in order to reduce the stress induce by this worldwide sanitary crisis.

After telling this story to the management board, I think they realized that their business was revolving  around elderly person wellness and not strictly only around the medical health.

In this case, we decided to integrate two types of “Contactless meetups” for family visits in The Coca-Cola that  were in adequation with sanitary regulation. First option, was to organize virtual family visits for  residents who were incline to select this method. The second one was to create a safe space were family  could see, hear, and talk their elderly family member without being in contact with them.

In conclusion, this course allowed me to better understand tools available to me for better responding  to previously unsolvable problems. In the future, I will be more incline to use visualization, mind  mapping and learning lunch tools in decisions making processes.


Reflection – Storytelling Author : Jean Pierre Jouanne Challenge & Application I am currently working in France in retirement homes called The Coca - Cola . During my working time , I greatly interact with senior people . While taking this class , I realize that I use Storytelling on a daily basis . Module 2 of the class introduce a concept that I love and that can be easily implementable while I try to solve resident ’s problems and anxiety issues . I describe myself as an open - minded person that can easily share lives stories with senior residents . By listening to their concerns , it helps me visualizing areas to improve and start my thinking process in order to develop new strategies . By applying this strategy , I am able to improve their satisfaction levels on many different levels ( canteen repartition , reorganization of visits time and so on … ) . Application My story , I think , will talk to everyone reading this paper . During the difficult context on the crisis we are all facing , the badly famous COVID-19 , I was able to use storytelling to comfort the elderly people I ’m working with . During this stress - generating times , I was in charge of developing and addressing elderly people needs . At the management meeting , the director of the center wanted to apply rules dictated by our government strictly . I took a stand , explaining to the director that the situation needs to be addressed differently while still addressing rules dictated by our national leaders . Then , I told them the story of this old lady in the residence . This particular lady was especially impacted by this sanitary crisis , she was n’t sick , she was simply afraid about the consequences of sanitary restrictions . I took the time to sit down and listen to her concerns . She explained me that she was n’t necessarily scared of being contaminated , even though she knew it could be fatal for her . What was worrying her , was to fact of being left alone in her room without any human interaction . She obviously needed attention from us more than medical treatments . Thereafter , I opened up to her by confessing that the situation also had a negative impact on myself . Simply the fact of opening up to this person , made her realize that we were in same situation and that I would be here to support her even during this crisis . Approach & Feedback This story might sound straight forward , and it was for me too . However , after , listening and learning from the class material , I realize the multiple applications for the storytelling tool . After talking to this old charming person , it made me realize that the straight forward application of sanitary restrictions could not be applied in our retirement house . Elderly residents should have a say on how to apply those life saving restrictions in order to reduce the stress induce by this worldwide sanitary crisis . After telling this story to the management board , I think they realized that their business was revolving around elderly person wellness and not strictly only around the medical health . In this case , we decided to integrate two types of “ Contactless meetups ” for family visits in The Coca - Cola that were in adequation with sanitary regulation . First option , was to organize virtual family visits for residents who were incline to select this method . The second one was to create a safe space were family could see , hear , and talk their elderly family member without being in contact with them . In conclusion , this course allowed me to better understand tools available to me for better responding to previously unsolvable problems . In the future , I will be more incline to use visualization , mind mapping and learning lunch tools in decisions making processes .