televés - Afrizal, SA

Memories Memories in in the the Making©
Making©
By By Sarah Sarah Whiteman, Whiteman, Associate Associate Development Development Director
Director
Memories in the Making© is an art program for
individuals in the early and middle stages of Alzheimer’s
disease or related disorders, which offers the opportunity
for creativity and expression through the visual arts. The
program is being piloted at three community sites in the
metro Indianapolis. Those facilities
include: Alliance Adult Day Services,
American Village-American Senior
Communities, and Forum at the
Crossing-Sunrise Senior Living.
Memories in the Making is a unique
program for individuals with Alzheimer’s
disease or other dementia to express
themselves through art. Through the
creative process of painting, these
individuals speak to us, offering us the essence of themselves.
The art they produce is a tangible means of expression,
which speaks to the families, the professional caregivers and
to the public.
Groups of 5-10 individuals meet weekly in nursing
homes, assisted living facilities and adult day programs to
paint. Each group meets under the guidance of an art
facilitator specifically trained to work with individuals with
memory loss and dementia.
Book Book Review
Review
Long Long Long Long Long Distance Distance Distance Distance Distance Caregiving:
Caregiving:
Caregiving: Caregiving:
Caregiving: A A Survival Survival Guide Guide for for Far Far Far Away Away Caregivers
Caregivers
By Angela Heath
Odds are that, like millions of other Americans, you are
challenged with providing care to an elderly parent or relative.
If your parent or relative lives in another city or another
state, your situation is further complicated by distance.
You are probably struggling with many difficult issues as
you attempt to understand the person’s needs, make arrangements
to meet those needs, and work with other family members
and agencies that provide services. For a number of reasons,
you may be feeling stressed, pressured, exhausted, and
bewildered. You may be facing telephone and travel expenses
related to providing care. You may be feeling intense conflicting
emotions about the many different roles you must assume
as caregiver. In all likelihood, you have other demands for
your time and attention such as a spouse, children, a job, or
your own health concerns.
This month’s recommended reading, Long Distance
Caregiving: A Survival Guide for Far Away Caregivers will
12
Memories in the Making differs from traditional arts
and crafts offered for the elderly because it focuses on creative
expression. The forms created are directed by the individual.
The process is tailored to provide structure and support for
the participant while at the same time allowing them to
create their own message on the paper. It
is not unusual for an individual to paint
memories from long ago or something they
can no longer find the words to express.
The paintings, sketches and
drawings created by these artists are highly
expressive and often beautiful. In viewing
the art the families, the caregivers and the
public are often touched by the tangible
evidence of what remains of the individual even after the
disease has robbed them of so much.
Thank you to our volunteer art facilitators, Carrie Grant,
Debbie Nesbit, Jean Ramser, Mark Ramser, Debbie Scott,
Jennifer Stearman and Ella Wagner, who have committed to
facilitating this art program for 10 weeks during the summer.
For more information or to volunteer for this program,
please contact Sarah Whiteman, Associate Director of
Development, at (317) 575-9620, extension 25 or e-mail:
Sarah.Whiteman@alz.org.
identify specific steps you can take to make long distance
caregiving more manageable. Throughout the book, you are
instructed to complete a number of basic tasks in preparing
for a planned visit, or “care commute,” with your parent/relative.
These tasks are designed to lay the groundwork for successful
long distance caregiving. Chapters 2 through 6 cover
information you will want to become familiar with prior to
your “care commute.” These chapters will help you identify
and prioritize what you need to accomplish during your visit.
Chapter 7 covers the actual visit and chapter 8 covers how to
adjust your plan of care. In chapter 9, you will find helpful
information on housing options for your parent/relative.
Throughout the book, you are asked to record information
in a Care Log. A Care Log is an easy-to-use, concise
record of the important information you will need throughout
the caregiving period. It contains all the forms and exercises
you will need to develop a plan of care.