An ABHOW community’s program for adults with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease has found a bridge to residents’ inner lives through the world of art.
Plymouth Village in Redlands, Calif., had already established progressive methods of working with residents with dementia. So when Keith Kasin, the community’s executive director, read of the benefits of art therapy, he thought such an activity would be a natural fit for The Grove, Plymouth Village’s memory support program.
He approached the Riverside Arts Council in nearby Riverside for support. After the organization agreed to provide instructors and materials, Kasin took a proposal for an initial 10-week program to the ABHOW Foundation, which agreed to cover the costs.
Residents spent the first phase of the program, which ran from mid-April through June, working in tempura paints, drawing and creating collages. In keeping with The Grove’s philosophy of focusing on residents’ abilities rather than their disabilities, residents were challenged to genuinely express themselves through their art.
“People with dementia are more open to art, particularly if it’s in more of an adult context,” says David Troxel, ABHOW’s dementia care consultant. “The art show is a great example of aiming higher to an activity that you or I would enjoy.”
What emerged surprised Kasin. “I was really blown away by the quality of the art,” he says. “It was interesting to watch how over the 10 weeks, what they created improved. And some of the people who had careers in their lives, you could kind of see that starting to emerge.”
Family members responded well to the program, too, he says. “During the first 10 weeks we had more involvement from residents’ family members than we’ve had in a long while, and I’m hoping that’s going to continue through the next two programs.” The second phase began Sept. 2 and features clay sculpture. A third phase incorporating theater will begin in November.
Plymouth Village celebrated the end of the first session July 31 with an art show at Kendall Place, a Victorian mansion that sits at the edge of the campus. The pride residents took in their work was obvious.
“You could see them showing it off,” Kasin says. “We brought all the residents over and most sought out their own work. Most sat next to their work, and many went out of their way to point it out.”
