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Mildred Fertig, a resident at Rockland Place, has enjoyed painting since she was very young. But now, with late stage dementia, her memories of one of her favorite past times seemed long gone.
That was until Donna Teleis, a certified Art Without Boundaries therapist brought the innovative program to Rockland in June of 2011.
“It is not art therapy but rather a psychological process,” said Teleis.
The unusual form of therapy uses everyday pleasures such as singing, movement, painting and storytelling in a unique combination to stimulate dramatic changes in the brain.
The program began in 2000 and was developed by Noell Hammer, who at the time was working with Alzheimer’s patients. Hammer started painting with her patients and noticed her process developed immediate and dramatic results.
Teleis teaches the program once a month with late stage dementia residents at Rockland and so far, the outcome has been remarkable. The hallways in Rockland Place are lined with gorgeous paintings, all of which are replicas that Teleis provides the patients as a guide. The residents do 90 percent of the painting themselves, and then show of their work to a group of other residents.
But perhaps the greatest result of the program is from the assessments Teleis does with the residents. Before beginning a painting session, she completes a simple brain assessment: she sings with the patient, and gives them basic instructions to follow.
The late-stage dementia patients often has trouble following Teleis’ instructions in the beginning of the program. After they paint, and the assessment is repeated, the patients can often repeat it with ease.
That is what has surprised Community Life Director Megan Gilson the most.
“They will tap their legs back and forth in the beginning and have trouble doing it and then they are able to do it in the end,” Gilson said. “They want to come back because they enjoy it so much, and the residents that used to paint are regaining that joy.”
Take Fertig, who is known at Rockland as a “Resident Rembrandt.” Fertig was one of the first residents to participate in the program and she did a fantastic job following the therapist’s advice about the techniques and importance of movement.
Teleis only works with three or four residents at a time, but she almost always experiences a breakthrough. Resident Peggy Jones chose a winter scenery to paint for her first session, and after seeing her finished product, told Teleis her painting reminded her of the woods she remembers seeing in New England.
Jones’ thoughts on her first painting?
“It looks pretty good to me.”
To learn more about the Art Without Boundaries program, visit http://artwithoutboundaries.net
Mildred Fertig, a resident at Rockland Place, has enjoyed painting since she was very young. But now, with late stage dementia, her memories of one of her favorite past times seemed long gone.
That was until Donna Teleis, a certified Art Without Boundaries therapist brought the innovative program to Rockland in June of 2011.
“It is not art therapy but rather a psychological process,” said Teleis.
The unusual form of therapy uses everyday pleasures such as singing, movement, painting and storytelling in a unique combination to stimulate dramatic changes in the brain.
The program began in 2000 and was developed by Noell Hammer, who at the time was working with Alzheimer’s patients. Hammer started painting with her patients and noticed her process developed immediate and dramatic results.
Teleis teaches the program once a month with late stage dementia residents at Rockland and so far, the outcome has been remarkable. The hallways in Rockland Place are lined with gorgeous paintings, all of which are replicas that Teleis provides the patients as a guide. The residents do 90 percent of the painting themselves, and then show of their work to a group of other residents.
But perhaps the greatest result of the program is from the assessments Teleis does with the residents. Before beginning a painting session, she completes a simple brain assessment: she sings with the patient, and gives them basic instructions to follow.
The late-stage dementia patients often has trouble following Teleis’ instructions in the beginning of the program. After they paint, and the assessment is repeated, the patients can often repeat it with ease.
That is what has surprised Community Life Director Megan Gilson the most.
“They will tap their legs back and forth in the beginning and have trouble doing it and then they are able to do it in the end,” Gilson said. “They want to come back because they enjoy it so much, and the residents that used to paint are regaining that joy.”
Take Fertig, who is known at Rockland as a “Resident Rembrandt.” Fertig was one of the first residents to participate in the program and she did a fantastic job following the therapist’s advice about the techniques and importance of movement.
Teleis only works with three or four residents at a time, but she almost always experiences a breakthrough. Resident Peggy Jones chose a winter scenery to paint for her first session, and after seeing her finished product, told Teleis her painting reminded her of the woods she remembers seeing in New England.
Jones’ thoughts on her first painting?
“It looks pretty good to me.”
To learn more about the Art Without Boundaries program, visit http://artwithoutboundaries.net
