I would like to share today something with you about memory disease and art so
with you about memory disease and art so
with you about memory disease and art so what do you see here right an old woman
what do you see here right an old woman
what do you see here right an old woman and if we are lucky we will all grow old
and if we are lucky we will all grow old
and if we are lucky we will all grow old aging is the biggest mega trend of the
aging is the biggest mega trend of the
aging is the biggest mega trend of the 21st century in the Western world and we
21st century in the Western world and we
21st century in the Western world and we will live longer than any generation
will live longer than any generation
will live longer than any generation before us and that’s due to the good
before us and that’s due to the good
before us and that’s due to the good health care and nutrition but aging is
health care and nutrition but aging is
health care and nutrition but aging is not only a good thing it also causes
not only a good thing it also causes
not only a good thing it also causes severe problems to individuals and it
severe problems to individuals and it
severe problems to individuals and it will set a huge challenge to our society
will set a huge challenge to our society
will set a huge challenge to our society and that’s because many memory diseases
and that’s because many memory diseases
and that’s because many memory diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are linked with old age and when you
are linked with old age and when you
are linked with old age and when you have a memory disease it does not only
have a memory disease it does not only
have a memory disease it does not only mean that you don’t remember or you will
mean that you don’t remember or you will
mean that you don’t remember or you will forget your memories but it will mean
forget your memories but it will mean
forget your memories but it will mean that your cognitive skills will diminish
that your cognitive skills will diminish
that your cognitive skills will diminish that means that you are not able to
that means that you are not able to
that means that you are not able to dress yourself take care of your own
dress yourself take care of your own
dress yourself take care of your own hygiene eeeh take care of your own
hygiene eeeh take care of your own
hygiene eeeh take care of your own monetary matters and maybe you cannot
monetary matters and maybe you cannot
monetary matters and maybe you cannot find your way back home again and when
find your way back home again and when
find your way back home again and when the disease gets even more severe the
the disease gets even more severe the
the disease gets even more severe the words will vanish you want to have a cup
words will vanish you want to have a cup
words will vanish you want to have a cup but you cannot name it you call it the
but you cannot name it you call it the
but you cannot name it you call it the spoon so the communication becomes
spoon so the communication becomes
spoon so the communication becomes difficult and a real conversation is not
difficult and a real conversation is not
difficult and a real conversation is not possible anymore and when the disease
possible anymore and when the disease
possible anymore and when the disease gets even more severe you will have
gets even more severe you will have
gets even more severe you will have problems recognizing loved ones family
problems recognizing loved ones family
problems recognizing loved ones family members and friends and you might behave
members and friends and you might behave
members and friends and you might behave impulsively and this will cause the
impulsively and this will cause the
impulsively and this will cause the authentic interaction to
authentic interaction to
authentic interaction to and the bonds might slowly fade away and
and the bonds might slowly fade away and
and the bonds might slowly fade away and this is not only heavy and painful for
this is not only heavy and painful for
this is not only heavy and painful for the patients but also for the family
the patients but also for the family
the patients but also for the family members and when we look at this group
members and when we look at this group
members and when we look at this group of people having memory disease we see
of people having memory disease we see
of people having memory disease we see the message a homogeneous group that
the message a homogeneous group that
the message a homogeneous group that cannot communicate and is completely
cannot communicate and is completely
cannot communicate and is completely dependent on others for they care and at
dependent on others for they care and at
dependent on others for they care and at the moment scientists researchers and
the moment scientists researchers and
the moment scientists researchers and pharmaceutical companies are feverishly
pharmaceutical companies are feverishly
pharmaceutical companies are feverishly working to find a treatment to these
working to find a treatment to these
working to find a treatment to these evil diseases and yes there are some
evil diseases and yes there are some
evil diseases and yes there are some medicines already they can delay or slow
medicines already they can delay or slow
medicines already they can delay or slow down the development of amyloid plaque
down the development of amyloid plaque
down the development of amyloid plaque and the symptoms of the disease but no
and the symptoms of the disease but no
and the symptoms of the disease but no cure has been found yet here are some
cure has been found yet here are some
cure has been found yet here are some statistics year 2015 there were 48
statistics year 2015 there were 48
statistics year 2015 there were 48 million people diagnosed with memory
million people diagnosed with memory
million people diagnosed with memory disease worldwide and the estimate is
disease worldwide and the estimate is
disease worldwide and the estimate is that there will be hundred and thirty
that there will be hundred and thirty
that there will be hundred and thirty one point five five million people
one point five five million people
one point five five million people diagnosed by the year 2050 in Finland we
diagnosed by the year 2050 in Finland we
diagnosed by the year 2050 in Finland we had 200,000 people diagnosed with a
had 200,000 people diagnosed with a
had 200,000 people diagnosed with a memory disease year 2016 and that number
memory disease year 2016 and that number
memory disease year 2016 and that number grows with 14,500 new diagnoses every
grows with 14,500 new diagnoses every
grows with 14,500 new diagnoses every year so the rough estimate is that there
year so the rough estimate is that there
year so the rough estimate is that there will be about 300,000 people with memory
will be about 300,000 people with memory
will be about 300,000 people with memory disease by the year 2030 and that’s only
disease by the year 2030 and that’s only
disease by the year 2030 and that’s only 13 years from now so now we may ask
13 years from now so now we may ask
13 years from now so now we may ask ourselves how are we going to cope with
ourselves how are we going to cope with
ourselves how are we going to cope with this fast-growing group economically
this fast-growing group economically
this fast-growing group economically practically and ethically in a nursing
practically and ethically in a nursing
practically and ethically in a nursing home our physiological needs and safety
home our physiological needs and safety
home our physiological needs and safety needs will be taken care of so we will
needs will be taken care of so we will
needs will be taken care of so we will have a roof of
have a roof of
have a roof of our heads we will have a rope warm meal
our heads we will have a rope warm meal
our heads we will have a rope warm meal and clean clothes and there will be
and clean clothes and there will be
and clean clothes and there will be professionals or robots taking care of
professionals or robots taking care of
professionals or robots taking care of our physiological needs and there will
our physiological needs and there will
our physiological needs and there will be locks on the doors to keep us safely
be locks on the doors to keep us safely
be locks on the doors to keep us safely locked in but how about love and
locked in but how about love and
locked in but how about love and belonging or our feeling of self-esteem
belonging or our feeling of self-esteem
belonging or our feeling of self-esteem and identity or our means to express
and identity or our means to express
and identity or our means to express ourselves to be yourself
this is picture of Edith Edith has a
this is picture of Edith Edith has a severe memory disease and she lives in a
severe memory disease and she lives in a
severe memory disease and she lives in a nursing home she is angry she has fits
nursing home she is angry she has fits
nursing home she is angry she has fits she swears and uses rude language
she swears and uses rude language
she swears and uses rude language sometimes and sometimes she does not
sometimes and sometimes she does not
sometimes and sometimes she does not want to say a word but what we don’t see
want to say a word but what we don’t see
want to say a word but what we don’t see in this picture is Edith’s rich inner
in this picture is Edith’s rich inner
in this picture is Edith’s rich inner life a core of her personality that
life a core of her personality that
life a core of her personality that makes her unique individual so when the
makes her unique individual so when the
makes her unique individual so when the memory disease gets severe the words
memory disease gets severe the words
memory disease gets severe the words will vanish but effects emotions and
will vanish but effects emotions and
will vanish but effects emotions and feelings won’t they need to be expressed
feelings won’t they need to be expressed
feelings won’t they need to be expressed let me ask you how would you express
let me ask you how would you express
let me ask you how would you express yourself without words I have developed
yourself without words I have developed
yourself without words I have developed a method with a colleague of mine
a method with a colleague of mine
a method with a colleague of mine Marietta Hilton
Marietta Hilton
Marietta Hilton and that method method is based on
and that method method is based on
and that method method is based on expressive our therapist and our
expressive our therapist and our
expressive our therapist and our clinical work and experience in nursing
clinical work and experience in nursing
clinical work and experience in nursing homes it is not rocket science it’s a
homes it is not rocket science it’s a
homes it is not rocket science it’s a practice and it is no cure but it will
practice and it is no cure but it will
practice and it is no cure but it will give you means to express yourself and a
give you means to express yourself and a
give you means to express yourself and a moment of sharing and a sense of
moment of sharing and a sense of
moment of sharing and a sense of belonging with both the patient and a
belonging with both the patient and a
belonging with both the patient and a family member because what sets this
family member because what sets this
family member because what sets this method apart from all the other methods
method apart from all the other methods
method apart from all the other methods practices is that we involve the family
practices is that we involve the family
practices is that we involve the family member in the practice and the practice
member in the practice and the practice
member in the practice and the practice is to create art and narratives side by
is to create art and narratives side by
is to create art and narratives side by side these groups also work as
side these groups also work as
side these groups also work as supportive peer groups for the family
supportive peer groups for the family
supportive peer groups for the family members let me tell you how this works
members let me tell you how this works
members let me tell you how this works here are two sisters
here are two sisters
here are two sisters Hilma and Lisa hill -86 and little
Hilma and Lisa hill -86 and little
Hilma and Lisa hill -86 and little sister lisa is 18 Hilma has memory
sister lisa is 18 Hilma has memory
sister lisa is 18 Hilma has memory disease and she communicates only by
disease and she communicates only by
disease and she communicates only by mimics for yes she nods her head shakes
mimics for yes she nods her head shakes
mimics for yes she nods her head shakes it for no shrugs her shoulders and when
it for no shrugs her shoulders and when
it for no shrugs her shoulders and when she does not want to cooperate she puts
she does not want to cooperate she puts
she does not want to cooperate she puts her arms across her chest but when she
her arms across her chest but when she
her arms across her chest but when she wants your attention she will reach out
wants your attention she will reach out
wants your attention she will reach out for your hand but she does not talk
for your hand but she does not talk
for your hand but she does not talk anymore in the group after every
anymore in the group after every
anymore in the group after every painting session we always look at the
painting session we always look at the
painting session we always look at the paintings together and this is hilma’s
paintings together and this is hilma’s
paintings together and this is hilma’s painting I show the painting to Hilma
painting I show the painting to Hilma
painting I show the painting to Hilma and I ask her what do you see I don’t
and I ask her what do you see I don’t
and I ask her what do you see I don’t expect an answer but to my surprise
expect an answer but to my surprise
expect an answer but to my surprise Hilma says that Meza water forest I look
Hilma says that Meza water forest I look
Hilma says that Meza water forest I look at Lisa her sister and I see Lisa’s eyes
at Lisa her sister and I see Lisa’s eyes
at Lisa her sister and I see Lisa’s eyes are filled with tears and Lisa says yes
are filled with tears and Lisa says yes
are filled with tears and Lisa says yes being in this group and painting brings
being in this group and painting brings
being in this group and painting brings even humor speech back then Lisa looks
even humor speech back then Lisa looks
even humor speech back then Lisa looks at the painting and she says he did this
at the painting and she says he did this
at the painting and she says he did this could be water and forest because they
could be water and forest because they
could be water and forest because they have always been very important to Hilma
have always been very important to Hilma
have always been very important to Hilma when she was still independent she would
when she was still independent she would
when she was still independent she would always take long walks along the
always take long walks along the
always take long walks along the waterfront and in the forests and I can
waterfront and in the forests and I can
waterfront and in the forests and I can see that when Lisa tells this to the
see that when Lisa tells this to the
see that when Lisa tells this to the group she is very happy and proud to
group she is very happy and proud to
group she is very happy and proud to share something about her big sister
share something about her big sister
share something about her big sister Lisa Hillman sorry and here scared to
Lisa Hillman sorry and here scared to
Lisa Hillman sorry and here scared to get the will turn 99 in February and she
get the will turn 99 in February and she
get the will turn 99 in February and she has planned to have a dance fall for her
has planned to have a dance fall for her
has planned to have a dance fall for her hundred years birthday party and she
hundred years birthday party and she
hundred years birthday party and she comes to the group every week with one
comes to the group every week with one
comes to the group every week with one of her three children her
of her three children her
of her three children her children are between 65 and 72 years old
children are between 65 and 72 years old
children are between 65 and 72 years old they have been in the group from the
they have been in the group from the
they have been in the group from the very beginning in the group get to
very beginning in the group get to
very beginning in the group get to always paints flower fields and forests
always paints flower fields and forests
always paints flower fields and forests and tell stories from her country
and tell stories from her country
and tell stories from her country cottage and her daughter says when we
cottage and her daughter says when we
cottage and her daughter says when we asked mom about the cottage she does not
asked mom about the cottage she does not
asked mom about the cottage she does not remember it and when we show her a
remember it and when we show her a
remember it and when we show her a photograph she doesn’t recognize the
photograph she doesn’t recognize the
photograph she doesn’t recognize the place but here in the group she paints
place but here in the group she paints
place but here in the group she paints and draws forests and flowers and tells
and draws forests and flowers and tells
and draws forests and flowers and tells old stories from the cottage we are
old stories from the cottage we are
old stories from the cottage we are amazed and here is an imperative they
amazed and here is an imperative they
amazed and here is an imperative they are in the 80s but the anna has the
are in the 80s but the anna has the
are in the 80s but the anna has the Alzheimer’s disease and Bertha has been
Alzheimer’s disease and Bertha has been
Alzheimer’s disease and Bertha has been her caregiver at home but now it has
her caregiver at home but now it has
her caregiver at home but now it has become too heavy for birdie to take care
become too heavy for birdie to take care
become too heavy for birdie to take care of her at their home anymore
of her at their home anymore
of her at their home anymore Gertie has told us that Anna likes music
Gertie has told us that Anna likes music
Gertie has told us that Anna likes music she used to play the piano when she was
she used to play the piano when she was
she used to play the piano when she was young in this picture where we are
young in this picture where we are
young in this picture where we are drawing there is music playing in the
drawing there is music playing in the
drawing there is music playing in the background Anna Polk’s birthday with her
background Anna Polk’s birthday with her
background Anna Polk’s birthday with her elbow but birthday so concentrated in
elbow but birthday so concentrated in
elbow but birthday so concentrated in his own drawing that he does not notice
his own drawing that he does not notice
his own drawing that he does not notice anything Anna turns to him and pokes
anything Anna turns to him and pokes
anything Anna turns to him and pokes again and now
again and now
again and now Bertie notice her he lifts his head and
Bertie notice her he lifts his head and
Bertie notice her he lifts his head and looks at Anna and I make an intervention
looks at Anna and I make an intervention
looks at Anna and I make an intervention and I ask birthday is there something
and I ask birthday is there something
and I ask birthday is there something with this music there this island for a
with this music there this island for a
with this music there this island for a moment he listens to the music and then
moment he listens to the music and then
moment he listens to the music and then he says this is the walls
he says this is the walls
he says this is the walls what Mexico iya forest flowers that was
what Mexico iya forest flowers that was
what Mexico iya forest flowers that was our wedding was 54 years ago and he
our wedding was 54 years ago and he
our wedding was 54 years ago and he takes Una’s hand in his hand
takes Una’s hand in his hand
takes Una’s hand in his hand here is Edith she has been with us from
here is Edith she has been with us from
here is Edith she has been with us from the last autumn with her knees in the
the last autumn with her knees in the
the last autumn with her knees in the group and this is one time after a
group and this is one time after a
group and this is one time after a painting session when we are looking at
painting session when we are looking at
painting session when we are looking at the paintings together when the
the paintings together when the
the paintings together when the recreational activities coach pops into
recreational activities coach pops into
recreational activities coach pops into the room she looks at the group and then
the room she looks at the group and then
the room she looks at the group and then she looks at Edith and then she looks at
she looks at Edith and then she looks at
she looks at Edith and then she looks at me and says I have never seen it
me and says I have never seen it
me and says I have never seen it smile before so the good news about the
smile before so the good news about the
smile before so the good news about the memory disease is that you will not lose
memory disease is that you will not lose
memory disease is that you will not lose your emotional memory you will still
your emotional memory you will still
your emotional memory you will still feel love affection and joy and you can
feel love affection and joy and you can
feel love affection and joy and you can find a connection and a sense of
find a connection and a sense of
find a connection and a sense of belonging so let art be the means to
belonging so let art be the means to
belonging so let art be the means to express these valuable deep feelings and
express these valuable deep feelings and
express these valuable deep feelings and share them with loved ones
”
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