Pictures by Jackie Macadam

'A Big Family'

Tuesday January 21 2014

Jackie Macadam finds out about an innovative CrossReach project which is helping people with dementia express themselves through art.

The popular image of dementia is that it is a condition that can gradually eat into the ability to express yourself and to access memories and cognitive thinking, leading to a sense of isolation, confusion and sometimes, helplessness.

“But that’s absolutely not how we see it,” says Heart for Art manager, Paula Pinda. “The people we work with here simply do not see themselves like that at all.”

Paula (pictured right), an artist, is employed by CrossReach and works with volunteer (but trained) artists, in Glasgow in Heart For Art, a flourishing and innovative project designed to help and encourage people with dementia and their families to find a different way to communicate and to express their feelings.

‘Heart For Art’ is run by CrossReach, the Social Care Council of the Church of Scotland and thanks to three years of funding from the Guild, has been able to expand into other communities elsewhere in Scotland.

“Art offers a unique way for people to self-express. Creating images gives pleasure and takes you on a personal, creative journey,” says Paula.

“Others can use it as a way to express their mood or their feelings in ways they can’t use words to explain”.

Over a year ago, CrossReach recognised the value of the art and how art can benefit people’s lives.

“They decided they’d like to introduce creative art service for people with dementia and run a specific group in the west of Scotland.

“The concept behind Heart For Art is to break the barriers of stigma and discrimination that often surround a diagnosis of dementia, and to work to provide opportunities for people with dementia and their carers to build confidence and self-esteem, enabling the person to use art to express themselves.

“The creative side is staffed by both professionals and by trained volunteers – artists who help out with the creative side, or people just ready to make tea or bring cake.

“The second element to the project is the ‘drop in’ aspect. Experienced dementia advisers are on hand to help out anyone who just drops in to ask questions or access professional advice, support or information about dementia and other local services. It also gives people a chance just to socialise with others in a similar situation.

“It’s really important that we don’t just have a ‘care for’ attitude, but a ‘care about’ attitude.

“As soon as the diagnosis is given, people can, sometimes unconsciously, put up ‘barriers’ and make assumptions – and that goes for the people that get the diagnosis as well. They can begin to self-limit, both in their thoughts and in what they try to do.

“Art really has the power to help them break out of these thought processes.”

“When we started out with the first small group, we could not have imagined it would go this far. It doesn’t really feel as if it is a group for people and families coping with dementia. To all of us here, workers, helpers and participants, it’s more just like a big family.”

This is an abridged version of a feature in February's Life and Work. Subscribe here.