100 Ideas for a Creative Approach to Activities in Dementia Care

Sarah Zoutewelle-Morris=======================Sarah Zoutewelle-Morris (1949-2019) was born in Dublin, Ireland and moved with her family moved to the U.S. when she was a child. She received a degree in fine arts/illustration at Syracuse University New York, and a BFA Graphic design/ Calligraphy at Carnegie-Mellon University PA. She taught calligraphy, art and design at CMU and the Ivy School of Professional Art & Crafts, lectured, exhibited, and did commissions. In 1977 she moved to Scotland, to the Findhorn Foundation, where in addition to design work she also ran the art gallery and gave art workshops. In 1984 she moved with her Dutch husband to the Netherlands, where she continued teaching, working in graphic design and calligraphy, exhibiting her art work, writing articles for various magazines, and illustrating books. In the mid-nineties, she made a leap to the social side of art and joined HBG, an organization of artists that developed and executed celebratory art and creativity projects in hospitals. She also worked as a creative consultant in a home for people with dementia for several years, which resulted in her first book, 100 Ideas for a Creative Approach to Activities in Dementia Care. Both her second book, A Generous Spirit: Exploring New Directions for the Arts, and her third, Pigments of Imagination, were published posthumously in 2020.Killick=======Author of Poetry and Dementia

Sarah Zoutewelle-Morris’s book is a must-have for anyone interested in successfully entering the world of individuals with memory loss. Whatever you are trying to do or bring will be supported and greatly enhanced by her approaches. This book is not just for Recreational and Activity staff and Artists of all types, but also guidance for Clergy, Therapists, Medical and Care staff, Volunteers and family members. Many activity books jump quickly to what to “DO” with people, covering “how to be” as somewhat of an afterthought. Sarah spends solid time on this topic. She allows the reader to explore the spaces and opportunities of how to “BE” with someone with dementia, what this means and how impactful it is to everyone involved. The author patiently nurtures creativity, spontaneity and letting go of perfection while focusing on staying Present, and spends time on what is meaningful and unique about each person with or without an illness, and how to find ways to draw on these important elements in a person’s life. Sarah understands the challenging care situations with a small group representing very different skills and stages, or feeling lost with a particular stage of this disease. She provides wonderful tips to the reader about all the stages, including end-of-life, and guidance regarding feeling lost. This book provides many practical points for this work with great details and resources. Sarah is also broad and inspiring, bringing a full depth of understanding to all the nuances, joys and heartwarming moments. There are many subtle yet important things someone new to this field must learn; she conveys all these insights with ease. Sarah Zoutewelle-Morris presents such a humane, delightful and kind approach with great ideas and resources for activities and work with individuals with memory loss. Wherever I consult, this book will be on the top of the recommendation list. —Megan Carnarius, Memory Care Consulting and author of A Deeper Perspective on Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias

• 1Elements of a Creative ApproachA Creative ApproachTaking a step towards their worldThe person with dementiaAbout YouBringing yourself alongBeing thereReflection2Getting StartedPurpose and characteristics of activitiesStaying involvedActivity gradingCreative thinkingActivity basicsMaterials and tools3Creating Your Own ActivitiesIntroduction to the activities sectionHome and CompanionshipCreating a sense of homeSpecial everyday momentsCooking, food and eatingWorking, Playing and Creating TogetherMaking something for/withGames and playTheir story, historyCollaborative creative writingAdvanced stages'Holding', and physical objectsStart where they areWitnessing4100 Activities HandbookIntroductionNo Cost, Low Cost ActivitiesNo cost, low cost activities and playTo make for the roomActivities based on former professionsLetters, Books and WordsPoetry writingMaking simple booksBooks for youLetters and handwritingDrawing and CollageDrawing as visual communicationCollage and assemblageMandalasAdvanced DementiaHoldingActivities based on gestures5Closing ThoughtsArt in dementia careMini-guidesActivities listBibliographyResourcesCredits, Acknowledgements, About the author, By the same author