Do you want to offer art programming or art therapy for people living with dementia, but you don’t have a background in art or dementia care?

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I can teach you how to build and facilitate an art program for people living with dementia in your care, even without any previous art or dementia knowledge.

NCTRC pre-approved CE session content!

Can you relate to this?

  • You’ve tried coming up with art projects for the people in your care, but you are not confident in your drawing or painting abilities, so they never turn out the way you want.

  • You’ve tried to access an artist or art therapist to facilitate some art programming for your home or organization, but you don’t have the budget, or there is no one available who specializes in dementia.

  • You’re not sure if you have the right space, participants, materials or time to create an art program for those with dementia.

  • As an artist, you’ve tried to offer classes for adult day programs, long-term care home or retirement homes, but they are never as successful as you’d like them to be because you don’t know much about dementia and how to facilitate an art lesson for those living with it.

There’s GOT to be a better way to introduce art to the people in your care.

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We know that feelings of isolation, low mood and responsive behaviours can all increase significantly in older adults living with dementia without opportunities for social engagement, meaningful activity and alternative modes of communication and expression.

You want to increase the quality of life for the people in your care.

Yes, you could jump right into offering art programming without a background or training in art or in dementia care, but you want to do the responsible thing for the people in your care and provide them with the safest and most supportive art program you can.

However, training specifically for dementia care can be an additional cost and take time to complete, and you already feel stretched thin. Not to mention hiring someone to run dementia programming can be expensive.

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My passion is introducing art as a means of connection, communication and care, and helping healthcare and art therapy professionals open the door to a whole new world for the people in their care who are living with dementia.

I’ve spent the last 10 years as an experienced art facilitator holding a graduate diploma in art therapy. I provide ongoing in-person group art therapy programs in many long-term care, retirement and healthcare settings in Southwestern Ontario, have organized short-term art collaborations with museums and local organizations, and have contributed to research papers. In short, I have dedicated my career to supporting those living with dementia and other cognitive changes through art.

And now I’m ready to help you.

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Introducing:

The Building a Dementia-friendly Art Program Online Course

Learn how to create and facilitate an art program for people living with dementia

This course is for you if:

  • You’re an artist or art therapist working with people living with dementia, or looking to work in that field, and you need to know the foundations or building a dementia-friendly environment and program.

  • You’re a recreation therapist or activation staff in a long-term care or retirement home setting and you’d like to add more art programming for the people in your care, but you don’t have the budget for or access to an artist or art therapist specializing in dementia to attend your home regularly.

  • You work in an Adult Day Program setting that supports people living with dementia, and you’d like to include more art in your program, but you don’t have an art background.

  • You are a respite or in-home care support worker for people living with dementia and you’d like to include some engaging art activities in your visits.

  • You are an informal care partner looking for ideas to provide meaningful activity, engage, or communicate in a new and creative way with your loved one.

I’m here to share all my years of dementia and art training and experience so you can build your dementia-friendly art program with confidence.

What’s included:

Short video lessons

This online course is delivered in short instructional videos (just over an hour total) that covers everything from the art environment set-up to materials, lessons planning, responsive behaviours, accommodating losses, and more.

  • Module 1: Creating Your Program

    • The Art Environment

    • Art Materials

    • Lesson Planning

    • Who Should Attend

    • Setting up for Success

    • Group Structure


    Module 2: Facilitating Your Program

    • Approach is Everything

    • It's About the Journey ... and also the Destination

    • Weaving in Engagement

    • Responsive Behaviours in the Art Group

    • Drawing on Strengths and Accommodating Losses

    • Building Relationships


    Module 3: Learning in Action

    • Art Session Video

    • Art Lesson Ideas

    • Resources, Downloads and Material Lists

Checklists and other programming resources

I’ve put together resources you can put into action immediately, including an art program checklist and resources on recognizing dementia-specific losses and how you can support them in your art programming.

art materials list

I’ve included direct links to my favourite tried and tested dementia art program materials that provide the most enjoyable and safe experience for both you as the teacher and the participants.

example live art session

Putting everything you learn in the course into action can be intimidating! I’ve included an example art session with a live participant who has never done art before so you can see how we complete the art along with examples of engagement.

Course Completion certificate

Upon completion of the course, you can request a certificate. This program is NCTRC Pre-approved CE Session Content.

Course Reviews

  • — Alten Wilmot

    I took this course as a performing artist building my first project for the dementia population. Even though it was a different discipline from my own, the principals and foundation of this work are laid out so clearly with specific detail, making what can seem like a daunting task feel natural and enjoyable with a clear path to succeed.

  • — Michele Wilmot

    The example lesson with Karl demonstrates gentle guidance in providing a light, open landscape to talk freely and paint from their own experiences and memories. The course is a great reminder of all the details needed to create a safe, healthy workspace for members attending. The light humour that is introduced and repeated is funny and enjoyable for everyone.

You might be thinking “I want to invest in this course, but I’m not sure it’s for me.”

Maybe you feel like you don’t have the budget, or worried that this might be something too outside of your wheelhouse or unfamiliar to invest in.

Those concerns are really about wanting to offer only the best to the people who are living with dementia in your care.

Focus on the amount of joy, connection and meaning an art program can add to the lives of those individuals living with dementia in your care.

What if you build your skill, confidence and knowledge and are able to create an entirely new experience, changing the lives of those in your care?

The door to a whole new world of creative connection is one click away.

FAQ’S

  • This course should take between 2 to 3 hours to complete.

  • Yes. At the end of the course, there are instructions to receive your certificate.