Experts for WomanSage

(The Impact of Professionally-Led Cultural Programs)
By La Doris “Sam” Heinly

There is a small, but powerful growing trend surfacing among informed family care givers of those who are frail elderly and people living with dementia. The movement is getting the attention of professional care facilities nationwide. Traditionally, society has focused on community awareness for the disease and our national resources have been intent on finding a cure, but many family caregivers are also interested in quality of care in the day-to-day lives of their loved ones.

Research supports the importance of quality creative cultural programming. Some care facilities are beginning to listen to family concerns and families are asking direct questions regarding daily care activities. What activities do you have? And, who is conducting these activities? What is their level of training and expertise? Many care facility placement decisions are based on the family’s satisfaction to the answers of these questions.

We know from the work of Gene Cohen, MD, PhD, George Washington University Medical Center, that there is a positive impact of professionally conducted cultural programs on the physical health, mental health and social functioning of older adults. Results revealed positive intervention effects in relation to number of doctor visits, medication usage, depression, morale, and activity level. Cohen’s 2-year study results were published, June 2007, in the Journal of Aging, Humanities and the Arts, 1:1,5-22

At present, some care facility staff is being trained specifically in the creative arts; music, and dance for the purpose of conducting classes in their care facilities. Sometimes, that already-busy facility staff views conducting art classes as one more additional task they are being asked to perform and one that is not necessarily of their particular interest or talent.

In contrast, there are a growing number of professional activity directors specializing in programs like the Memories in the Making © art program, Time/Slips ©, storytelling, singing in chorales, dance and song writing. They are independently contracting with care facilities to provide this level of quality activity.

Additionally, volunteers with a giving heart and spare time are volunteering, and learning how to conduct special classes for the purpose of giving their time and energy as creative facilitators. They are often family, who have creative talents and want to give back to the community.

The results show an ever increasing level of activities available for our senor population. Activities that impact the quality of life as measured in the quality of the specific moment. We now have Dr. Cohen’s study to support the value of the smiles and laughter we observe during these creative sessions. A mid-morning art class produces not only art, but social interaction with other residents and facility staff. Staff reports, after the creative class ends, attendees appear to have better appetites and more social interaction for the afternoon. Additionally, the staff admits to more job satisfaction when they also participate in the creative activity with those in their care. More job satisfaction translates into less employee turnover and a better trained staff person.

The specialized quality activities appear to be satisfying to everyone including care facility management. The families report pleasure at some of the talents emerging from their loved ones and a new way of interacting that is not about their declining disease. People who have never painted before are producing beautiful works of art, participating in a chorale singing group or taking part in a community play.

If you would like to learn more about the Memories in the Making art program or want to know more about other existing creative programs contact:

La Doris “Sam” Heinly
Memories in the Making National Program consultant
Alzheimer’s Association, Orange County
www.Alzheimersartspeaks.com

Marilyn Lorey
Memories in the Making Coordinator
Alzheimer’s Association, Orange County