Old movies via DVDs, as well as CDs of big band music
or other favorites of our elders’ generation have long been used as a
diversionary tactic. Now, Artists for Alzheimer’s (ARTZ) is spotlighting a new way that movies can be used to enhance the lives of people with Alzheimer's disease. ARTZ is a nonprofit based in Woburn, Mass. that creates cultural opportunities for people with dementia and their caregivers.
Their program, Meet me at the Coolidge…and make memories, is an interactive film program for people with memory loss and their care partners. “Short clips from classic films are shown, followed by audience discussion and reminiscence, guided by a moderator. This program demonstrates how film can be a form of treatment for some of the symptoms associated with memory loss, Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. The cinema has the power to connect us with our deep-rooted emotional memories - the kind that never leave us.
Read more about arts and Alzheimer's:
Purchase Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories – paperback or ebook
