New Art Program Helps Seniors With Dementia
A new project is using artistic creativity to help seniors living with dementia. St. Michael’s Long Term Care Centre in Edmonton is seeking youth, ages 14 and over and adult volunteers, to partner with residents living with dementia for a new art program beginning in December. “The idea is to help residents living with dementia be able to creatively express themselves in a way that they aren’t able to on a normal day,” said Meagan Chapman, Parkland County resident and recreation attendant at St. Michael’s Long Term Care Centre.
‘Connecting by Creating’ is an intergenerational, arts based, volunteer program that will focus on connecting student volunteers with residents living with dementia in the care facility. Connecting by Creating will include two six-week programs. The first, beginning in December will focus on abstract art and is called St. Michael’s Art Club and the second, will focus on expressive, improv theatre and is called St. Michael’s Theatre.
“(In the first program) there’ll be a new painting art project each week. Most of them are using either paint or ink and they are all abstract pieces,” said Chapman. “By using abstract art, it helps to make it a failure free activity for the seniors, allowing for creative self-expression of the residents living with dementia.”
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Date
Nov 13, 2021
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By
Kristine Jean
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