Alzheimers and Art - My Video full of ideas!

Where my journey as an art practitoner began…

Back in 2010 I took part in THE BIG DRAW and volunteered with Sunrise Senior Living in Beaconsfield.

I learned so much during these few weeks.

Art is not just art when you work with people who have memory loss, it is a gateway, an activity, a conversation...

Here is a video of the drawings and paintings we produced.

Free colouring sheets for elderly people! Roses!

Here is another FREE colouring sheet to print out and use in your residential care home or day centre.

These sheets are great to use for those with Dementia or Alzheimers Disease.

Although I am based in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire UK, I have just realised that many of my views are coming from Australia, Norway and the USA.

I have had many emails suggesting that I make a book of designs for adults to enjoy and colour in so I am looking into this.

In the mean time please enjoy this image of a Dog Rose I have drew this morning especially for you  to print out and use.

Fyi the rose was a pretty pink with the petals turning from pink to white as they reach the centre of the flower.

Art is a wonderful thing - Even as a spectator!

Sometimes when I go to an art session I draw the people I work with.

When Alzheimers or mixed dementia is well settled into the person that lives with it they almost become a spectator in life.

When I see this I talk to them and draw…

Other residents watch the process as they wander and walk around.

Here is an example of some of my work. These 20 minute drawings are on A4 cartridge paper and coloured loosely with watercolour.

You can see more portraits here on my Facebook page.

If anyone has any suggestions about what drawing pages you would like me to make next please get i touch or leave a comment below.

Art With The Elderly is based in and around Buckinghamshire providing art sessions for elderly people in residential homes and day centres.

FREE COLOURING SHEETS for the elderly and those with dementia! CATS!

These colouring sheets are free for you to use for your residents in care homes or loved ones with alzheimers or dementia. 

If possible please could you either share this blog, comment below or subscribe. It would be amazing to know where in the world my blog is read. At the moment people in the USA are the biggest readers of Art with the Elderly, closely followed but the UK and Norway!

Thank you for visiting. Please check back for more FREE colouring sheets for adults.

FREE Colouring Print out -Activities for the Elderly & Dementia

Watch this space…in the next few days I will posting FREE hand drawn colouring sheets to use in your residential home or workshops with the elderly and those with dementia. Please comment if you would be interested in receiving some for free...

You can now find these print out sheets by clicking HERE 

Hope you enjoy them! There will be more added on a regular basis.

Spread the word!

ART - An introduction to working with new people with Dementia

I have recently started a placement at a residential home in Tring.
When starting to work with new people it takes time to became familiar with them. Even though, because of dementia, they may not necessarily remember you from the previous time you met it is your own familiarity with them that makes the art session work so well. This was the first time I had spent time with this lady.

The portrait above I drew while we talked and became acquainted, this drawing took around 30 minutes, by the time I had finished she was open to painting and made the art work below. She painted for around 15 minutes.

I look forward to my next visit...

ART WITH THE ELDERLY

ART can be used to help people with dementia.

As an artist and art practitioner I find that art is a way of helping people with dementia tap into their subconscious and improve memory recall.
Often while painting people will remember something they did when they were younger that they couldn't recall before and for that moment the memory exists and becomes part of the creative process. My main objectives within art sessions are to stimulate conversation, improve fine motor skills and lift the spirits of the people that attend.

My local Alzheimers Society have recently started a new Dementia Cafe and I am very happy to run a regular art session for them which is very rewarding.

I began running art sessions in 2008 when a member of my family moved into a residential home. I now work freelance with Sunrise Senior Living, Care UK and other independant residential homes providing regular art sessions and one off cover sessions.

Lynne D Jones-Field  

Ba (hons) MA

WWW.ARTWITHTHEELDERLY.COM