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Articles
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Article By:
Dr Patricia Baines, author of this paper is trained as an Anthropologist,
Psychologist and Art Therapist. |
Introduction:
Honouring the capacity to create in people with dementia is the
underlying intention of this paper. All human beings are
creative, but, when one is living with dementia, that creativity
may need to be supported and encouraged by others trained to
foster creative expression. The paper is entitled “Nurturing the
heart” to indicate that, as human beings, people with dementia,
perhaps even more than before, need to feel part of a caring
community, which values and respects them. They need to be
valued, not just for what they have contributed in the past,
but, as they are right now. Watching a person with dementia
painting or writing is to be filled with awe, for, regardless of
memory loss, the person is expressing and revealing a unique
identity.
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Article By:
Ruth Bright,
Dr. AM, Past President of the Australian National Music Therapy
Association and the World Federation of Music Therapy and
Adjunct Lecturer at the ‘Australian’ University of New England's
School of Health |
Introduction:
A pioneer music therapist since 1960, Ruth Bright is well-known for her
work and writings on music therapy; she is the author of 12 books, 3 of
which have been published in translation - one each in German and
Spanish, and two in Japanese. She has written about music therapy in
psychiatry, geriatric rehabilitation, dementia and grief resolution; and
is on the state committee of the Australian Music Therapy Association.
Ruth has served two terms as National President of that association and
has also served a three-year term as President of the World Federation
of Music Therapy. She is also an Adjunct lecturer for the University of
New England's School of Health, and gives guest lectures at several
other academic institutions.
Dementia is a major challenge to society, and - as we live longer -
there will be increasing numbers of people whose memories have ‘ let
them down’. We may imagine that everybody thinks the same about the
occurrence of dementia in a family member: first disbelief, then shock,
disappointment, anxiety, sadness at the loss of an active relationship,
fear of the future. Often too there is guilt in recalling irritability
and anger over inexplicable behaviour – which later proved to be a
fore-runner of dementia.
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