How to Use Art to Reach Those with Dementia: Proven Strategies to Connect artwork
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & Dementia

How to Use Art to Reach Those with Dementia: Proven Strategies to Connect

  • S2024E107
  • 1:03:52
  • February 6th 2024

Have you heard these myths about the power of art in dementia care?

Myth 1: Only artistic individuals can benefit from art therapy.

Myth 2: People with advanced dementia can't engage in creative activities.

Myth 3: Art therapy is only about painting and drawing.

In this podcast, you will learn how different art forms can benefit those living with dementia and how you can incorporate them in your care. From using humor to engaging with music and art, our expert panelists are redefining the meaning of connection in dementia care. Learn how simple activities like painting, singing, and even reading can spark meaningful interactions, revive memories, and create joy. Stay tuned for heartwarming stories and unexpected insights that will change the way you approach dementia care. Immerse yourself in this inspiring journey of reconnection and hope.

The Panelists

Tom & Karen Brenner, Mary Crescenzo, Katya De Luisa, Marc Rothman, MD, and Tryn Rose Seley. For details on the authors visit our website.

Quotes:

"I like to generally think of people who have dementia as on a journey that's very different from the one we all are on who don't have dementia. And it's taking them to a different place. It's taking them to a place that's hard for us to recognize."- Marc Rothman, MD

"When we meet a person with Alzheimer's where they are, by using fluid guidance, non-judgment, not having preconceived notions what they can or cannot do, we can begin to have engagements with them." Mary Crescenzo

"It's our turn to start the conversation, to bring out the best in a person with dementia." - Tryn Rose Seley

In this episode, you will:

·      Discover how art can transform the lives of individuals with dementia and enhance their well-being.

·      Learn how personalized art can revive memories and create meaningful connections with individuals experiencing dementia.

·      Explore the impact of humor individuals with dementia and how it fosters engagement and joy.

·      Uncover the benefits of using reading and writing as therapeutic tools to stimulate cognitive abilities in individuals with dementia.

·      Embrace the power of patience and innovation in art therapy to create meaningful and enriching experiences for individuals with dementia.

About the Podcast

AlzAuthors is the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer’s and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Our podcast introduces you to our authors who share their stories and insights to provide knowledge, comfort, and support. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends on their own dementia journeys.

We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please donate here.

Ideas and opinions expressed in this podcast belong to the speakers and not AlzAuthors. Always consult your healthcare provider and legal and financial consultants for advice on any of the topics covered here.

Thanks for listening.

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AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & Dementia

Welcome to the AlzAuthors podcast! We’re so glad you found us. We are the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer's and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Join us each week as one of our authors shares their dementia journey, revealing intimate details and painfully obtained knowledge to help others currently on this path. We hope our stories offer comfort and support as we strive to break the silence and stigma surrounding a dementia diagnosis. May one of our authors speak to your experience. For more info please visit https://alzauthors.com.

Ideas and opinions expressed in this podcast belong to the speakers and not AlzAuthors. Always consult your healthcare provider and legal and financial consultants for advice on any of the topics covered here.


Meet Our Hosts

Marianne Sciucco avatar
Marianne Sciucco
Podcast Producer and Host

Marianne Sciucco is a registered nurse, dementia daughter, and author of the novel Blue Hydrangeas, an Alzheimer’s love story, based on a couple she met through her work. It is a testament to the power of love in the face of this heart-wrenching disease. Marianne cared for hundreds of dementia patients over a 20+-year nursing career. She provided care to her stepfather during his dementia journey, and witnessed the painful decline of four beloved aunts to the disease. She's a founding member of AlzAuthors, sits on the Board, and is a director and manager. She can talk about AlzAuthors all day.

Christy Byrne Yates avatar
Christy Byrne Yates
Co-host and Producer

Christy Byrne Yates is a Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP), retired school psychologist, author, speaker and coach/consultant. Her book, Building a Legacy of Love: Thriving in the Sandwich Generation recounts her journey as a working mother of two who also managed the care of her parents, both of whom had some form of dementia. Combining her lived experience with her professional expertise in human development, wellness and a strengths based approach to finding solutions, Christy develops content, workshops and coaching to support Sandwiched families. She incorporates meditation, mindfulness and other evidence based mind/body practices into her work. She’s worked with care communities, financial professionals, estate planners and employers. Christy has a master’s degree in counseling psychology, and graduate credentials in both education and school psychology.

Support Us

AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. The podcast is one way we provide knowledge, comfort, and support to busy caregivers desperate for information. Your generosity will help us to continue our mission to lift the silence and stigma that often accompanies a dementia diagnosis. Please consider making a donation. Thank you.