Viewing art helped people with dementia deal with the stress of recalling memories, new research on the Art Gallery of New South Wales’s art access program for people living with dementia has found.
The study by Dr Gail Kenning from the University of Technology in Sydney showed that the program helped sufferers to experience the “in the moment” pleasure of looking at art, rather than focusing on memory.
“This experience of pleasure impacted people with dementia as well as carers and family members,” Dr Kenning said.
So how does the program work?
Living “in the moment”
Each month, “access guides”, who have expert knowledge on the artworks, take a small group of participants through the pieces and encourage them to talk about the details of the paintings and join in discussions about them.
The participants, who range from those with mild dementia to more advanced symptoms, can make their observations about the paintings or link them to events in their own lives. This also benefits carers and family member who are able to engage more with their loved one.
The artworks chosen by the program’s coordinator Danielle Gullotta include iconic Australian masterpieces as well as works from international touring exhibitions, award-winning works from annual exhibitions such as the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes and works from their ‘audience favourites’ collection.
It’s been running at the gallery since 2010, inspired by a similar program at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and is sponsored by Alzheimer’s Australia NSW and an anonymous private donor.
Alzheimer’s Australia NSW CEO, the Honourable John Watkins AM, says the program is a great example of social support available to people living with dementia and their carers.
“AGNSW art access programming provides a much-needed respite from the day-to-day realities of living with dementia and caring for someone who has dementia – with obvious ongoing benefits for everyone taking part,” he said.
The Gallery is now planning to expand the program into aged care homes around the state, for people who are too frail to the gallery in person.
With Dementia Awareness Month running from September 1 to 30 – the theme ‘You are not alone’ – it’s a timely reminder to reach out to those with dementia and their families.
Watch an ABC News video about the program here.
You can read more about Dementia Awareness Month here.
FACTS ABOUT DEMENTIA IN AUSTRALIA
- There are 353,800 people living with dementia in Australia and this number is expected to increase to 400,000 in less than five years
- Don’t think every ‘old’ person will develop dementia – three in ten people over the age of 85 and about one in ten people over 65 have dementia
- But be aware and look for early signs. There are also approximately 25,100 people in Australia with Younger Onset Dementia, a diagnosis of dementia under the age of 65 including people as young as 30)
- An estimated 1.2 million people are involved in the care of a person with dementia
- 6 in 10 Australians admit they know very little about dementia
- There is information and support available. Call the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500 (interpreter service available)
