Fish Tank by Lorraine Matamoris

For people with Alzheimer's, a world grown confusing, overwhelming, and maybe even frightening has been comforted a little by a palette of watercolor paints and blank piece of paper. With the encouragement of a volunteer art facilitator, these artists slap, doodle, and glide their brushes on paper forming meaningful works of art. This art program has helped them reach a place beneath their dementia to extract some part of who they are. Participants in this program can feel a real sense of accomplishment and achievement in a world of continual memory loss.

"We're trying to create an emotionally safe environment where those with Alzheimer's can express themselves with art rather than with words, which can be a frustrating experience," says Gwen Ippen, Memories in the Making Program Coordinator." This program does not teach new skills, rather it is designed to be fun and facilitate communication through art. People with Alzheimer's are often able to paint memories or emotions that they are no longer able to talk about.

Families and caregivers can learn more about the individual with Alzheimer's through their artwork. For example, one artist painted a birdhouse sharing his lifelong love of building and hanging birdhouses in the yard.Another paints a fish remembering the hours spent nurturing his tanks of tropical fish, while another shares her love of her children with a painting and long explanations of each child.

What began in Colorado in 1994 as a pilot program at five sites has grown to over 65 assisted-living, nursing homes, and community centers throughout the state.

For information on a Memories in the Making program near you, contact Gwen Ippen at the Alzheimer's Association, 303.813.1669 or gwen.ippen@alz.org.