Enriching Life with Creative Expression

Claire Ford

Enriching Life with Creative Expression

September – November 2011

Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship Report

“Arts and Dementia Programming – Creative Aging”

CONTENTS

Introductionp.1

Destination Choicesp.2

Aims of the Tripp.3

Milwaukee

-The Luther Manor Experience p.3-4

-Timeslips p.4

-SPARK! p.5-7

-NADSA – National Adult Day Services p.7

Association Annual Conference

-United Community Centre p.8

-Dementia Screening p.8-9

Chicago

-Alzheimer’s Association, Chicago Chapter p.9

-Meeting with Deborah Delsingnore p.9

Minneapolis

-Kairos Dance p.10-12

-Walker Art Centre p.12-13

-Minneapolis Institute of Art p.13-14

-Alzheimer’s Association, Minneapolis Chapter p.14

New York

-‘Meet Me at MOMA’ p.14-17

-Alzheimer’s Association p.17-19

-Heights and Hills p.19

-Alzheimer’s Poetry Project p.19-21

-Well Tuned / I Pod Project p.21-23

-Storycorps p.24

-The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Handling

and Touching Programme p.25

-Studio Museum – Arts and Minds p.25-26

-Meeting with Mary Herschowitz and Drama

Therapy Programme p.26

-Folk Art Mueseum / Jewish Museum / Rubin Museum p.26

-Dance for PD p.26-27

-Guggenheim’s, Partially Sighted Programme p.28

San Francisco

-Stagebridge p.28-29

Washington DC

-Centre for Creative Aging p.29-30

-Kreegar Museum p.30

-IONA Services p.30-31

-Leisner Home p.31

-Society of the Arts in Healthcare p.32

Conclusions p.32-42

Since the Fellowshipp.42

Acknowledgements p.42

Appendices p.43-49

Introduction

Growing up with grandparents, great grandparents and other elder’s in my life has encouraged strong values and respect for the elderly generation. From a young age I volunteered for the Alzheimer’s Society at a local day centre using both Visual Arts and Music to engage and develop communication skills. From this point on I developed my education through the Arts, developing and currently working as a freelance Creative Practitioner facilitating Art Programmes to a wide spectrum of vulnerable audiences, the favourite being that of Dementia.

Aging older can be a frightening and daunting experience. Not only does health and mobility decrease but there can be numerous loses of family members and friends. So how do individuals feel when they develop Dementia? The loss of memory can affect relationships, communication, language, problem solving, functioning in daily activities, behaviour changes and emotions. The disease affects not only the individual but families, carers and friends alike.

Today’s culture are ignorant to Dementia, unaware of the potential positives rather than the saddened and bleakness of having the disease. Our culture needs to change to open up further opportunities and access for this audience. This will improve health and well-being, decrease depressive tendencies and empower individuals in their own life.

Dr. Gene Cohen of the Centre of Creative Aging said that “as cognitive ability deteriorates with Dementia, creativity increases, enabling new ways of communication”. Dementia is predicted to double in the next decade, with the arts to be seen as a powerful source, providing rich life opportunities for people affected by Dementia.

The USA are developed in this thinking, promoting the Arts as an access tool to unleashing creative potential. The Arts provide stimulation, engagement and empowerment, raise awareness, develop relationships with loved ones and contribute to this change in culture. Artists and Creative Therapists are closely collaborating with medical staff to provide unbelievable care programmes around the US. Due to their extortionate medical costs over in the US, these programmes are vital in cutting medical costs and improving overall health and well-being.

When working closely with facilities and organizations in the US I was overwhelmed with the dedication and commitment they have with working with this generation. The Arts in general are powerful and prevailing and really enhance and enable the individual to be ‘without’ the disease. I hope to share the outstanding work I saw on my travels, promoting the emotion and joy the Arts bring to all involved.

This report documents the phenomenal 10 weeks that I spent in Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Chicago, New York, San Francisco and Washington DC on behalf of the Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship. Due to the amount of places visited, people met and research undertook it’s impossible to include all details. Therefore I have attempted to summarise the key learning points in relevance to Arts and Dementia programming and what I set out to achieve.

Destination Choices

During my degree at Manchester Metropolitan University I developed my understanding of Arts and Health by undertaking short courses alongside Director Clive Parkinson. I realised how beneficial the Arts were for everyone to promote positive health and well-being. My relationship developed with Clive and I later became an intern for three months after I finished my degree. For the period of three months we researched, networked with important bodies and put funding forward for future Arts and Dementia projects. Through collaboratively working with Arts for Health, Clive mentioned the Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship and how this would develop and enrich my Dementia knowledge. And here I am today after being awarded….

Researching Arts and Dementia at Arts for Health meant that I knew the most relevant and developed organisations in this field. Arts for health connected me with Carrie McGee who works on the ‘Meet me at MOMA’ access programme in New York and Anne Basting a leader in research and the founder and Director of Timeslips, Milwaukee. Both Carrie and Anne helped to develop my connections around the US, providing me with essential information and advice on what would be most beneficial to observe and research whilst on my trip. Due to my interest in multiple participatory Art forms I aimed to see a mixture and innovative range. Through this interest I developed research in Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Chicago looking at smaller city access programmes in relation to New York, San Francisco and Washington DC. My destinations were chosen through programmes that were already set up and have recognised success in the Dementia spectrum. Visual Arts, Theatre, Poetry, Storytelling, Music and Dance were all aspects I wanted to delve into, to understand the options and potential of mixed and collaborative Art forms.

Aims of the Trip

• To develop diverse international knowledge of how various organizations work to promote well-being in dementia sufferers.
• To network and discuss personal ideas that would help both countries engage and understand different outcomes and benefits.
• To visit and practice alongside American partners and recognize their way of working in relation to the arts and dementia in the UK.
• To differentiate between various backgrounds, sex, religious beliefs as to what can be achieved through Art forms.
• To experiment and explore multiple participatory Art forms in relevance to the stages of Dementia and the specific individual, considering collaborative Arts to what is the correct Art form for that individual.
• To expand this personal journey and interest internationally, interacting with those important bodies across America from art to health organizations.
• To develop my cultural awareness and academic esteem, improving my ability to promote arts and dementia.

Milwaukee

- The Luther Manor Experience

When planning my Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship I wanted to embed myself within organisations as much as possible to develop those committed relationships which are invaluable and really enhance the experience.

I stayed in an Assisted Living apartment at Luther Manor for my time in Milwaukee and straight away became aware of the close knit complex. Everybody was friendly; I took part in fitness classes, and ate in the various restaurants located around Luther Manor. On evenings I spent my time playing cards, dominoes and draughts with residents. These relationships were enhanced over time and I am still in contact via letters…truly amazing people…

- Fitness at Luther Manor

I was in need of exercise whilst I was staying at Luther Manor in Milwaukee so I took Mary-Kay (the instructor) up on her offer of movement classes that were taking place daily in the assisted living complex of Luther Manor. I went to varying levels and oh boy they were strenuous and used various muscles within the body. It sure did make me feel unfit in comparison to the older generation. Fitness programmes included Water Exercise, Strength and Condition, Fitness and Balance and Stretching. These are all take place weekly and last for around 40 minutes. These exercises are ever so valuable for older people and promote fitness and overall health and well-being.

This quote really sums up Luther Manor:

“We are all pilgrims and travellers. From “Birth till Death” we travel between the eternities. May these days be pleasant for you, beneficial to society, helpful for those you meet, and a joy to those who know and love you best”. (Quote from welcome letter in accommodation at Luther Manor).

- Timeslips

Timeslips website:

Timeslips is a storytelling programme that was developed by Anne Basting to use as an improvising and exploration tool for individuals with early to mid-stage Dementia. It was first tested as a pilot study at Luther Manor and today is a regular programme at the Day Centre.

One photograph or image is given out to every participant in the group to view. Imagination is then used to develop new stories about the photograph. The staff delivering the Timeslips programme will ask sensory based questions to spark creative ideas, such as ‘What do you think the food smells like?’ All of the responses are written down and re-read at the end of the session. The stories are fabulous and reflect all of the individual’s personalities in some way, such as their favourite food. So Timeslips provides an opportunity for humour, imagination but to also get to know the members of the group.

Timeslips can be incorporated into many situations or environments such as storytelling in art exhibitions or within sensory based objects. There really are no limitations to Timeslips; stories can be as long as possible, with any theme. It empowers all individuals who participate and provides brain stimulation. Not only is it humorous but mundane photographs are coming to life through descriptive language and there is a huge space for freedom of imagination.

Timeslips is so flexible; it can be used at home, care facilities or at a bedside. It’s a fantastic tool for engaging with loved ones with no difficulties or frustration over memory loss. Most recently a Timeslips website has been developed providing online training to others who want to implement this programme in their facility, storytelling collaborative forums, and a page where you can test your writing and storytelling skills.

“Luther Manor believes that TimeSlips can bring together participants, family, staff, and volunteers in a unique celebration of people's creativity and impact on the world around them”. Timeslips is nationally recognized and recently being featured on the Today Show for its phenomenal work (see featured link).

I have had the fantastic opportunity of taking part in various Timeslips activities all around the US but the most special was at Luther Manor – its home where it was piloted. Around 12 participants took part and the story that was developed was so vivid and innovative. It allowed individuals to look deeper within a photograph or image to read emotion, colour, weather and scale. As Timeslips was taking place, it was as if the room came alive. All participants were laughing and imagining various situations, so to have this freedom of speech is highly empowering for individuals with Dementia.

Findings from Timeslips

–Provides freedom of speech, with no boundaries of right and wrong

–Does not cause frustration or confusion thinking about the past, but concentrates on the present, future and new stories

–Brain stimulation

–Humorous

–Provides a safe environment for personal stories too if inspired

–Perception development – looking closely and reading the Art, i.e. the emotion on someone’s face

–Develops Exploration and Improvisation

–Can collaborate with others, staff, family and friends

–Staff find out stories when the individuals are participating

–Simple concept to understand, not a confusing programme

- SPARK!

SPARK! Is a new program for caregivers and loved ones suffering from beginning to mid-stage Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Helen Bader Foundation supports ten museums and galleries in the Milwaukee and Minneapolis area to carry out such programmes. These are listed below.

The ten museums participating in the SPARK! Programmes are:

• Milwaukee Art Museum
• Milwaukee Public Museum
• Milwaukee County Historical Society
• Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau
• Racine Art Museum
• Racine Heritage Museum
• John Michael Kohler Art Center, Sheboygan
• Minnesota Institute of Art
• Minnesota Marine Art Museum
• Madison Children’s Museum
• Museum of Wisconsin Art, West Bend

(Those highlighted in red are the programmes I worked closely with / observed during my time in Milwaukee and Minneapolis and will discuss these further below)

- Milwaukee Art Museum

Students from Carroll University along with Pacia Sollumi worked in collaboration with both the Milwaukee Public Museum and Luther Manor to deliver their SPARK programme. The environment altered weekly from Museum to Day Centre and this made a huge difference to engagement and participation (discussed later in findings).

This SPARK programme provided both Art Gallery experience and Studio exploration. A piece of Art work was chosen by students to discuss in a similar response to Anne Basting’s ‘Timeslips’. Studio activities were then responsive to the selected art work. Activities included watercolor, drawing and clay sculpting.

- Milwaukee Public Museum

The Milwaukee Public Museum works in a very similar way to Timeslip’s and the other SPARK programmes but differs in environment. Instead the museum takes groups on journeys around interactive exhibits. There are many sectors of the museum from Dinosaurs, to Around the World, Under the Sea and Environment. But the programme I observed focused on ‘Around the World’. We were taken through Iceland, India, China and Egypt for engaged discussions to inspire new stories and meanings of the exhibits. All of the exhibits were astoundingly exact and reflected that place. When in Iceland, the temperature dropped and in Egypt it was warm. There was sand, elephants, jewellery and food in the Indian exhibit which inspired much creative conversation. The Public Museum is an ideal place to take individuals and their loved ones to, discovering new journeys to places they may have / or may want to go to. A carer mentioned that ‘My mum and I used to travel a lot, so this is perfect to keep seeing such realistic places, without the confusion of getting on an aeroplane’. This environment was loved by everyone on the access programme and could have easily carried on for an extra hour. It did just that….

I was speechless when I realised the seriousness of being stuck in a lift for two hours with four individuals with dementia and their carers. After completing, what was a fantastic SPARK programme at the Milwaukee Public Museum it was time for lunch. Everyone jumped in the lift and that’s when it hit us…WE WERE STUCK! A wooden broom stick was lodged down the shaft, dangling us between two floors. The nervous laughter began.

The carers and I were all becoming very worried when role reversal set in. Those with mid stage dementia began singing and laughing to keep us occupied! One lady even sang a nursery rhyme in French which was extraordinary and certainly took our breath away. To me this is a prime example of ‘Creative Aging’ in action! Nobody knows what was going through their minds that day, but they were able to react to a panic stricken situation creatively before any of the younger adults stuck in the lift that day.

- John Michael Kohler Art Center, Sheboygan

The SPARK programme at John Michael Kohler Art Center was the first one I observed and one of my personal favourites. This was my first main day in the US and the facilitators and group automatically made me feel comfortable and relaxed. It was apparent that they made the prime audience feel the same too.

The theme was ‘Personal Identity’ and with the main exhibition being ‘Forgetting Memory’ it was perfect!! We began with socializing over breakfast followed by the main studio activity – hand casting using wax. Working with families, caregivers or staff, participants had to decide on appropriate hand position. A married couple held hands, some men had their hands in a fist shape and so on…during the first half a masseuse was also available for hand massages. This helped movement for the participants and promoted different feelings within their hands.

We then moved into the gallery space of ‘Forgetting Memory’, viewing miniature clothing and its identity. In the same groups we discussed ‘What Clothing is important to you and really identifies who you are?’ During this time the facilitator passed out many different textiles from fur to lace and medals. We then shared stories with the groups which were fascinating and emotionally written. One lady spoke about her ballet shoes and the way she used to dance another man about his medals and his experience of war.

The programme concluded with adding the hand cast and written clothing stories into small decorated boxes. It was a beautiful programme, really pushing and promoting the way we are all identified. All participants were engaged for two hours and stayed afterwards too to look around the galleries some more.