Articles

How to Help those with Dementia Reclaim their Identities

10/26/2015

A new artistic means of exploring memories through creative activities is giving hope to sufferers of dementia and helping them to reassert their identities.

Arts charity Age Exchange aims to help dementia sufferers over 6 weeks of weekly reminiscence art sessions. Workers from the charity report marked improvements over the course of the therapy.

In one case, a 63 year old man had become withdrawn and introverted, and found it increasingly difficult to make slow and gentle movements, instead becoming increasingly erratic to the point of appearing aggressive.

However, soon after the therapy began it was noted that the patient began to be more engaged with his surroundings, made a much greater effort to communicate and controlled his behaviour and mood far better.

Previously suppressed energy which had erupted at times was more easily expressed through movements and sounds that paved the way towards better cooperation and communication with the outside world.

The pioneering treatment was carried out in Lambeth and Southwark in South London where over 200 dementia patients participated in the research and methodology of the new approach.  The research is all the more valuable when it is considered that according to the Alzheimer’s Society over one million UK citizens will suffer from dementia by 2025.

The research will be conducted over a three year period and has been subsidised by a £600,500 grant from Guys and St Thomas’ charity and aims to find a better way to treat those with dementia through creative care.

Despite findings being announced this autumn, early reports are very encouraging, with early evidence from qualitative and quantitative research by arts and social science experts at Royal Holloway, University of London suggesting marked improvements in quality of life. Results show that wellbeing for participants based on their mood and level of engagement had increased by 42%.

Age Exchange’s artistic director, David Savill, claimed that reminiscence arts are: “A means of opening up pathways of communications, using the past to inform the present … you’re validating someone’s identity and their life as being of value, and that has a massive effect.”

Instead of attempting verbal communication, Age Exchange have taken a multi-faceted approach to communication drawing upon a multitude of sensory stimuli, including music, drama and craft, movement, the handling of familiar objects and of sounds. In particular, things that are particularly poignant within the patient’s lifetime are used to evoke memories, for example a typewriter or a Frank Sinatra song.

Helen Nicholson, professor of theatre and performance at Royal Holloway, examined the work. She explained: “Reminiscence arts need to be undertaken by highly skilled arts practitioners. It is not a model to be rolled out formulaically. It involves creativity, understanding of art form and the ability to improvise in the highly complex environment of a care setting.”

Written By:

Daniel James
www.danieljamesbio.com
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