The physical care of people with dementia is of vital importance, but so too is their emotional, social, mental and spiritual wellbeing. The creative arts are gaining increasing recognition not only as a tool for delivering effective person-centred dementia care, but also for attending to soul as well as body. Encouraging those who care for people with dementia to develop their own creative skills, this book provides a creative map of care with easy-to-follow examples and detailed case studies. After explaining why adopting a creative approach is central to effective dementia care, the authors go on to discuss meditation, singing, movement and storytelling, describing the therapeutic benefits of each and giving practical examples of how they can be used with individuals or groups. They also look at the importance of creative supervision in promoting creativity and creating a safe space for honest interpersonal connection: an essential foundation for effective teamwork. This book will be an invaluable resource for anyone involved in the care of a person with dementia, including professional staff in residential and nursing homes, hospitals and day centres, families and other non-professional carers.

Memories in the Making is a program that features the art work of people living with Alzheimer's disease, using their art and often their few remaining words to share what is currently in their thoughts. This book dispels the common misconception that individuals with dementia are lost forever. Instead, we learn by reading their compelling stories and viewing their accompanying art, that they are still here, only in a different way.

Offers practical advice for arts therapists and health care professionals delivering person-centered dementia care. By using case studies of different arts therapies, the contributors show the beneficial effects of this approach leading to the benefits of a sense of community and group interaction.

Dementia is a term that encompasses a wide range of symptoms. In Europe alone about 10 million people live with dementia. Where health policy and medical approaches reach their limits, art and design strategies can open up new perspectives for people living with dementia – in terms of their abilities and circumstances and their social environment. This interdisciplinary handbook is aimed at people working and researching in the field of dementia. It offers insights into the possibilities and limitations of artistic and art-related interventions in relation to dementia. This publication brings together contributions from the disciplines of design, architecture, and art, music, and museum education, providing a variety of insights into this multifaceted syndrome.

A MacArthur Genius Grant recipient pioneers a radical change in how we interact with older loved ones, especially those experiencing dementia, as she introduces a proven method that uses the creative arts to bring light and joy to the lives of elders. In Creative Care, Anne Basting lays the groundwork for a widespread transformation in our approach to elder care and uses compelling, touching stories to inspire and guide us all—family, friends, and health professionals—in how to connect and interact with those living with dementia. A MacArthur Genius Grant recipient, Basting tells the story of how she pioneered a radical change in how we interact with our older loved ones. Now used around the world, this proven method has brought light and joy to the lives of elders—and those who care for them. Here, for the first time, everyone can learn these methods. Early in her career, Basting noticed a problem: today’s elderly—especially those experiencing dementia and Alzheimer’s— are often isolated in nursing homes or segregated in elder-care settings, making the final years of life feel lonely and devoid of meaning. To alleviate their sense of aloneness, Basting developed a radical approach that combines methods from the world of theater and improvisation with evidence-based therapies that connect people using their own creativity and imagination. Rooted in twenty-five years of research, these new techniques draw on core creative exercises—such as “Yes, and . . .” and “Beautiful Questions.” This approach fosters storytelling and active listening, allowing elders to freely share ideas and stories without worrying about getting the details “correct.” Basting’s research has shown that these practices stimulate the brain and awaken the imagination to add wonder and awe to patients’ daily lives—and provide them a means of connection, both with the world and with those caring for them. Creative Care promises to bring light and hope to a community that needs it most.

The Arts of Penelope: Art-Making and Making Artifacts, by Ellie Rose and Shannon Scrofano -- Who Is a Hero in Your Own Life?, by Jolene Hansen -- Mamie's Story, by Beth Meyer-Arnold -- On Playing the Suitors: In Dialogue, by Daniel Cohen and Rusty Tym -- On Playing Penelope: In Dialogue, by Joyce Heinrich and Nikki Zaleski -- Five Seconds after the Audience Left, by Anne Basting -- The Magic of the Movement, by Anne Basting and Leonard Cruz -- Finding an Ending, by Maureen Towey -- Excerpt from Finding Penelope, Scene 5, by Anne Basting -- Part Five: Evaluation and Evolution -- Beyond Penelope at Luther Manor, by Ellie Rose -- On the Challenges of Continuity in Civic Arts Projects: In Dialogue, by Michael Rohd and Anne Basting -- Making Structural Changes in the Curriculum through Penelope, by Robin Mello and Anne Basting -- What Did the Research Tell Us?, by Robin Mello and Julie Voigts -- The Essential Elements of Penelope, by Robin Mello and Julie Voigts -- The Landscape beyond Penelope, by Anne Basting, Ellie Rose, and Maureen Towey -- Appendices -- Appendix 1. Penelope Project Timeline -- Appendix 2. Penelope Project Team -- Appendix 3. Partnership Agreement -- Appendix 4. Prompts for Penelope Activities and Challenges -- Appendix 5. Storytelling and Playwriting Syllabus -- Appendix 6. A Note on the Program Evaluation, by Robin Mello -- Appendix 7. Funding Partners -- Appendix 8. Survey Questions -- Contributors -- Index

People diagnosed with dementia are still living and deserve the support needed to help them live as well as possible through the trauma and losses they face. To this end, the expressive arts play an important role. Enlightened by his father's artistic gift revealed in the throes of dementia, neurologist Daniel C. Potts tells how his father's creativity inspired the development of the Bringing Art to Life program, sharing stories of its participants, both persons living with dementia and their student partners, and of the power of art and authentic relationships to foster spiritual growth and make meaning even amidst life's greatest challenges.

Advanced art education is in the process of developing research programs throughout Europe. What does the term research actually means in the practice of art? What is the relation to the scientific methods of alpha, beta or gamma sciences, directed toward knowledge production and the development of a certain scientific domaine? What will be the influence of scientific research on the art forms?