ART OF THERAPY Program aims to help dementia sufferers

Keren Rivas

Jun. 17, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Kathryn Porter believes art is a powerful tool when dealing with people who suffer from dementia and other conditions that affect their cognitive skills.

That's why she decided to start an art therapeutic program at Friendship Adult Day Service Inc. (NASDAQ:SMCI) , an organization that works with aging adults, their families and caregivers by providing social, recreational and health services through day activities.

"Providing a means for selfexpression in the midst of language and memory loss is important," said Porter, the organization's executive director. Providing something related to their past occupations or hobbies is also very important, something that art does as well, she said.

For the past 10 months, Greensboro artist Bob Postma has been coming to the center on Martin Street in Burlington one day a week to work with residents individually during 30-to-40-minute sessions.

"We are a partnership," said Postma, 69, adding that his job is to coach people based on the abilities each person has. It took participants four to five weeks to finish a painting, he said.

Though the inspiration of many of the paintings came from the same photograph or picture, Postma said that each painting is different because it carries the artist's unique fingerprint. For him, mistakes are opportunities to create something different and new.

"In painting, mistakes can take you to wonderful surprises," he said.

At first, some of the residents, particularly men, did not want anything to do with him, Postma said. But as the months passed, and as they saw the effect the sessions had on other residents, they started to warm up to the idea of working with the stranger who came in once a week carrying brushes.

Postma has been working with adults with disabilities in his studio, Exceptional Friend Arts Studio in Greensboro, for the past eight years. He said his goal is to find adaptive ways for people to be productive while connecting with the community. Porter said that through the art program they've been able to accomplish that.

BY VIEWING THEIR artwork, Porter said, participants have been able to write poetry or discuss memories from their past that otherwise would not have surfaced. "It's been very successful," she said. "For some people it's an opportunity to try something they've never done before." On Friday, the artists will be able to interact with the community. Their acrylic paintings will be on display at the center as part of their first art exhibit.

Currently, 47 people receive services through Friendship Adult Day Services. About 25 of them have participated in the art program, which can serve up to 36 people. Most are 60 years of age or older. All of them have a functional or cognitive impairment such as dementia or Alzheimer's disease.

"For some this is a confidence booster," Porter said. "People are surprised about what they can do." That was the case for Lula, who painted a colorful landscape scene and who, up until now, didn't know she could paint this well. "I sure do enjoy it," she said after adding the final touches to her painting Thursday. (The residents are called simply by their first name.) But not all the participants are aware of their abilities. Some of them don't remember days later that they had produced a painting, Porter said, but the satisfaction they get while doing it is priceless.

"While they are painting, they seem to very much enjoy the moment," she said, adding that it's all about improving their quality of life.

At the show, people will be able to take a painting home for a suggested donation of $100. People can also purchase bird houses that the residents have made throughout the year. All the proceeds from the art exhibit will go to continue funding the art program, which costs $7,200 a year.

Porter said they have money to fund the program for the remaining fiscal year thanks mostly to the Hayden Harman Foundation. Porter said that she hopes to have two shows a year and some holiday sales as well to generate funds for the program.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0029-26044455