Center's Alzheimer's patients paint what they can't say

San Jose Mercury News, April 2, 2010
by Matt Wilson

It's been decades since Howard Saunders retired as a draftsman, but once a week for the past six years, the 88-year-old picks up a paintbrush and spends the afternoon creating images. It's a routine he rarely breaks-and one that has helped him better cope with the effects of Alzheimer's disease. On a recent Tuesday, Saunders carefully added the final spots and details to a cheetah painting.

Saunders is part of the Memories in the Making art program, aimed at using art to help those afflicted with Alzheimer's and dementia piece their memories back together. The Alzheimer's Association of Northern California has operated the program for more than a decade, and currently offer classes at 30 residential and adult day programs throughout the Bay Area, including Cupertino, Los Gatos and San Jose.

Organizers say the program often stimulates a memory that has sat dormant for years and helps participants regain their ability to communicate.

"The idea behind it is that it gives them a way to express themselves when they're having trouble finding words or even saying anything," says Charlie Niemeyer, Memories in the Making facilitator at Live Oak Adult Day Services in Cupertino, where classes are held weekly.

She says the program is simple and gives participants a moment to sit and concentrate on a single thing.

"It's a very good way of centering yourself. You focus on this one thing and give it your full attention," she adds.

Saunders' daughter, Nancy Boyle, says the art class has become an integral part of her dad's life.

Howard was a pen-and-pencil draftsman for most of his career and always had an artistic flair, Boyle says.

"This really does something good for him as it lets him do something he did do a lot in the past. It helps bring back the memories of what he used to do and what made him who he is," Boyle says. "It brings meaning to his day. It gives his life structure."

Boyle says the activity is a long-needed break from the frustrations of constant interaction with caregivers and nurses at the 24-hour care facility where he lives.

The program rotates weekly among different care facilities and is open to people of all ages at various stages of dementia. Some participants have suffered strokes or live with Parkinson's disease.

William Fisher, CEO of the Alzheimer's Association, Northern California, says participants range from former artists to people who have never held a paintbrush. Fisher says the program a valuable tool for communication and memory retrieval and gives a boost in self-confidence. Paintings are saved and compared from year to year to chart progress or to reflect on what participants were thinking or communicating during a given time.

Alzheimer's is a progressive disease that destroys brain cells, causing memory loss and problems with thinking. Treatments combined with the right activities, such as an art program, can help make life better for those with Alzheimer's, according to research by the Alzheimer's Association.

"What is unique is that these are people who have lost a lot of capacity, the threads in their life and the ability interact," Fisher says. "But you can see their verbal skills come back and recall some memory while painting. It comes bubbling out of them. They seem connected to the world and an environment they didn't seem to an hour ago."

During the classes, painters enter a quiet room with art material already laid out for them. Niemeyer sets up pictures or former art pieces on the table to jump-start ideas or spark a memory.

"People with dementia often need someone to get them started and let them know what's going on," she says.

Yolanda Squarcia has been bringing her 83-year-old mother, Victoria, to art class at Live Oak for more than six years.

"I had no idea she could paint, let alone draw any pictures. [To me], she was just a housewife and a beautician in Los Altos from a family of nine. She had no outlet for anything artistic," Squarcia said.

Niemeyer says the program has also proven a valuable tool for family members and caretakers who may have difficulty watching their loved ones slowly disintegrate. As the disease progresses, everyday activities become more difficult.

The art class, she says, can often help family members see "their father or grandpa in a different light and see them being able to do something, interacting and creating things. It can really turn how you see your family member," says Niemeyer.

One benefit comes when lost memories or thoughts appear either verbally or on the paper. The painting of a house might resurrect the memory of a forgotten house the individual lived in for 40 years.

"Sometimes memories pop out of nowhere, often things family members that haven't heard about," Niemeyer says. "You really have no idea where this is going to go to sometimes."

Watercolor is the medium of choice as it is easiest to work with and can produce results quickest.

"It's safe and there's a lot of solidity. We use artist-quality material so it lasts longer," says Shawna Sacan, program coordinator.

The process, not the final product, is stressed.

"It's an easy, low-pressure experience. Nobody is looking for masterpieces by any means. If you can let colors flow on a piece of paper, that's fine," Niemeyer says. "The last thing I want is for anyone to feels frustrated or inadequate."

"They can tell their story and express things that otherwise would not be asked about," Sacan says. "For some it's getting recognized for the first time in many years."

The artists also contribute to the program with their paintings. The association auctions off some pieces as part of its annual Memories in the Making fundraiser. This year's event raised $110,000.

Mae, who participates in the program at Live Oak and preferred not to give her last name, said she's always had an interest in art. The classes, however, are more than just about painting, she says. Mae says she enjoys the classes because of the creative group process that exists.

"I like talking with others about where their ideas come from," she says. Mae recently devoted a Tuesday class to creating a painting of a black cat that used to visit her home.

Fisher says programs like Memories in the Making are vital as Americans live longer and the nation sees more frequent cases of Alzheimer's.

For more information about Memories in the Making Art Program, go to alz.org, or call program coordinator Shawna Sacan at 650.962.8111. Sacan also may be reached at shawna.sacan@alz.org.

Alzheimer's Advocacy Day is April 21

On April 21, local Alzheimer's Association advocacy volunteers will go to Sacramento for the Alzheimer's Association's annual Advocacy Day 2010 to bring the Alzheimer's cause to the attention of state legislators. Participants will meet at 8:30 a.m. at the CSAC Conference Center. Last year's event attracted 1,400 speakers. For more information, or to sign up, go to alz.org/norcal or call 800.272.3900.