Arts in Dementia Care
"To be creative is to draw on one's lived experiences and transform them into something new. Creative expression is important for everyone, but it is even more important for those with dementia for whom other avenues of self-expression can be severley limited." - Anne Davis Basting and John Killick, The Arts and Dementia Care Resource Guide, 2009
Art can be one of the most powerful tools for connecting with people who have dementia and for improving the way we interact with and care for them. At ESTA, we believe that all older people are capable of creative engagement with others, even if their physical, emotional, and/or cognitive functioning is no longer as strong as it used to be. Building on the core principles of person-centered care, ESTA teaches caregivers the art of facilitating associative/sensory story gathering partnered with a method for recording the group process (e.g. writing, artwork, or other formats). The materials can then be shared with other caregivers, facility managers, elders' family members, and wider communities.
ESTA's Arts in Dementia Care training programs equip caregivers with the skills they need to creatively engage individuals with dementia. The training programs are offered in long-term care facilities, adult day health centers, and other locations serving frail elders with dementia
ESTA's Arts in Dementia Care programs include:
"The continuation of imagination and engagement provides intervals of good feeling in the face of overwhelming adversity. That is what art and creativity can provide in the most challenging situations." - Gene D. Cohen, M.D., Ph.D.