Services: Alzheimer's Art Program
British scholar and novelist, C.S. Lewis said, “Friendship is unnecessary; like philosophy, like art… It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.”
People with Alzheimer’s disease who live in long-term care settings have their basic needs met. At Hebrew Health Care, they receive excellent care for their medical conditions, in a safe environment with staff that cares about them. Nonetheless, residents’ “survival” can be enhanced further with the development of a specialized activities program.
A Fresh Canvas: Alzheimer’s Arts Program is the innovative new program created from a donation made in honor of Bella and Max Shulman and made possible through the generosity of their son and daughter-in-law, Albert and Rachel Shulman. It includes expanded programs for residents residing on the 4 South dementia special care unit. Activities on the unit now include:
- Weekly art therapy in small groups
- Every-other week craft group
- Weekly music therapy
- Weekly movement and music group
The arts program is offered in addition to traditional and non-traditional activity programming on the special care unit. The activity calendar is a balanced program of cognitive, creative, social, physical and spiritual large and small group activities. The recreation therapists and program managers work diligently to balance the daily activities so that residents have stimulating activities from several domains, for a variety of participation levels.
Hebrew Health Care’s dementia special care unit activity program is comprehensive, with special staffing and attention given to activities on the unit. Recreation staff provides programs similar to those offered throughout the facility, including special musical performances, birthday parties and pet therapy visits on the unit. The special care unit also offers weekly sensory stimulation group, reminiscence group, “Mind Stretchers” cognitive group, opportunities for one-to-one visits, and regular volunteer visits. Most importantly, the unit offers a special “swing shift” support staff member who works 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. It is the job of this specially-trained nurse aide to provide meaningful, engaging activity between formal programs, and to provide extra support during change of shift and the hours when some residents experience "sundowning."
