Dementia Support
For Friends, Family, Care-Givers
Listen:
In the silence between there is music;
In the spaces between there is story.
Pay attention:
We are listening each other into being.
Sally Atkins
Embedded Files
What is the problem here?
'Well, they have dementia.'
That's not the problem.
That's the reality.
That reality is not going to change.
The problem is:
How are we going to respond to that reality?
That's what needs to change.
Dementia
It's a harsh diagnosis.
We are losing the person we love to an invisible 'enemy' that ruthlessly eats away at the essence of who we once knew,
the memories we hold dear, and even a loved one's physical capabilities.
It's a brutal reality to look in the eye... it takes an enormous amount of courage.
What makes it even tougher is the feeling of powerlessness.
How do we arm ourselves to 'do battle' with this insidious disease?
We need to do something even braver than arming ourselves- we have to put down our weapons and accept the reality and find new ways to lovingly navigate this journey with friends and loved ones.
And this is key-
WE are the ones that need to change;
to meet the person living with dementia-
where they live NOW.
‘As long as we have our senses,
even just one,
we have at least the possibility of accessing
what makes us feel human-
connected.
Imagine the ripples of this notion,
for the millions of people living and dying with dementia, primal sensorial delights that say the things we don’t have the words for, impulses that make us stay present-
no need for a past or a future.’
Dr BJ Miller
Grieve what is gone and celebrate what is still there
Grieve what is gone and celebrate what is still there
The Arts
take the pressure off of the person
(living with dementia)
to PERFORM
in a style that no longer works for them.
Art can help us tap into what is still
present, intact and accessible.
The environment becomes safer
when not expected to perform in ways
that cause anxiety.
The Expressive Arts and Music Care
*can help to find the 'portals'
*tap into body memory
*access different parts of the brain
*make connections
*create a new foundation on which
to build intimate relationships
with loved ones who are
living with dementia
A few examples of how EXA and Music Care can be used to access these 'portals', and the resulting possibilities that can spring forth, allowing for a new path of connection.
Mrs L
Ray
Mrs F
Between the time it took to load her paintbrush with paint and apply it to her canvas, Mrs. F could not remember what she was supposed to do with the paint.
In this session, we were painting sunrises and sunsets. Mrs. F quietly started singing "Sunrise, Sunset'. I quickly found the music on an app and played it on a loop and while singing along...
Mrs F did not once forget what she was painting.
For an assessment, please contact Shon @
journey.intuart@sasktel.net
Currently, I am looking for 4-6 families
who have a member/person with dementia- at any stage- (for ease, referred to in the rest of this
document as the PWD) to join me in a year’s long journey of navigating life with dementia using
the Expressive Arts and Music Care as a therapeutic tool.
This has NOTHING to do with producing artwork (although sometimes it will produce beautiful things)
This has NOTHING to do with being an ‘artist’ (although embracing this title can feel really good)
This is about using the arts/music to:
*Tap into different parts of the brain
*Find ways to communicate feelings when words are unavailable or words are not enough
*Create/discover new neural pathways
*Discover new ways of ‘being’ while living with brain changes
*Learn how to have a new type of relationship with those who have lost their words and memory
and connecting has become difficult
*Work through fear, anger, frustration, grief, powerlessness and despair
*Find some joy in all this (mess)
This work is person-centred; designed to fit the needs of the PWD and will take into consideration
the needs of the individual family.
The program will be designed to fit the needs and dynamics of the families, not geared to force the
families to fit into an already established format.
The program will be:
flexible and thoughtful
supportive and encouraging
patient and non-judgemental
kind and loving
The PWD will be have access to one-on-one sessions with me once a week, up to 4xs a month.
Sessions can be held at the PWD’s home or, if appropriate, the PWD can be dropped off at my house where we
have a lovely bright space to work in. When it’s warm, we could spend the session time in our
colourful, cozy garden.
A family member or caregiver would need to join a session at least once a month but could
attend 2-3xs a month.
If they wish, a family member will have the opportunity to process with me
(using the arts) one-on-one, once a month.
The program will run 10 months over the course of 1 year.
The cost to the families could possibly be for materials only; approx $30/month.
(Depending on funding, a fee of $50- $100/month might apply. If a family cannot afford this,
I will look for subsidization).
Before I apply for funding, I need commitment from the 4-6 families:
*A willingness to show up when they can
*An openness to trying new things
*Easeful access to the person living with dementia
*Some courage to find new ways to journey through tough and confusing times
For more information, please contact me at:
journey.intuart@sasktel.net
The Brave Space Invitation
Together we will create brave space
Because there is no such a thing as a “safe space” —
We exist in the real world
We all carry scars and we have all caused wounds.
In this space
We seek to turn down the volume of the outside world,
We amplify voices that fight to be heard elsewhere,
We call each other to more truth and love
We have the right to start somewhere and continue to grow.
We have the responsibility to examine what we think we know.
We will not be perfect.
This space will not be perfect.
It will not always be what we wish it to be
But
It will be our brave space together,
And
We will work on it side by side.
~ Beth Stano (original)
~ Mickey Scott-Bey Jones (added to this poem)
All information will be held with the utmost confidentiality, respect and love.
No judgement will ever be brought into the relationship with the client, caregiver(s)/family and Shon.
Listen:
In the silence between there is music;
In the spaces between there is story.
Pay attention:
We are listening each other into being.
Sally Atkins
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