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The Executive Boards and Chairs of the Society for the Arts in
Dementia Care in Canada and Australia would like to wish all of our
members and readers a happy, healthy and fulfilling New Year.
In 2008 the Society experienced growth and recognition in our work
as we advocated for seniors with dementia wherever an opportunity
presented itself. The highlight of the year was our conference held
at Emily Carr University on Granville Island in Vancouver, and the
interesting and varied presentations by great speakers from Canada,
the United States and Australia. Our sponsors: Canada Post and
Pfizer Canada Inc. made it possible for all of us to enjoy the
event.
During the year, we also expanded our collaborations with our
affiliate, the British Columbia Activity Coordinators Association
(BCACA), on several educational events and we look forward to more
such occasions in 2009 and beyond.
As we grow, our Executive Boards face the challenging task of
maintaining the core mandate of our Society while adjusting to local
needs and regulations. What we have found as we discuss our
different approaches is that, as long as we are guided by the basic
ethical principles of maintaining our clients’ dignity and
facilitating enriched quality of life through supporting freedom of
creative expression we will prevail regardless of where we are
located.
In pursuing one of our goals to combine research and practice, we
recently learned that Dr. Peter Graf and Dr. Dalia Gottlieb-Tanaka
secured a grant from the Vancouver Foundation that will allow us to
collect data on creative expression programs in care facilities
around BC. The grant will allow the construction of a comprehensive
database, the first of its kind in BC. Several Board members took
part in developing the successful application and we look forward to
engaging more members in collaborations in the future. It is always
exciting and rewarding to know that the Society has a solid network
we can rely on in advancing and promoting dementia care.
In Australia, the Executive Board, under the leadership of Hilary
Lee, has the enormous task ahead of planning and coordinating our
next conference to take place in Adelaide in October 2009. The
conference will be located at the beautiful and artistic Convention
Centre in Adelaide. We are expecting about 400 delegates from
Australia and around the world. Details will soon be available on
our website and the announcements will include a call for papers.
The Society is spreading in Australia. It is currently registered in
Western Australia and Hilary is working with representatives from
the Arts in New South Wales and South Australia to commence two new
chapters of the Society in 2009. It has been exciting to see a surge
of interest in the Arts in ageing in Australia since the
introduction of the Society in 2006. In Western Australia the
Society plans to conduct small educational workshops during the year
and seeks sponsors to help promote the growing needs of seniors with
dementia and their families.
Even as we continue work in our Society, we are aware of the world’s
events, such as the elections in the U.S., the crash of major
financial institutions around the world, the act of terrorism in
Mumbai, and growing tensions between countries. We are all affected
by these events and sometimes they challenge our energies and
spirits. But, as caregivers, we must find ways to take care of
ourselves so we have the strength and resources to take care of
others. Our Society recognizes this urgent need and we have included
on our schedule a workshop to support our members as caregivers.
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| Adelaide Convention Centre, North Terrace
where there will be an array of international and national
speakers focusing on the creative arts in dementia care. |
We look forward to 2009 with excitement as we plan our future
events:
• January 15, 2009
The Creative Expressive Abilities Assessment (CEAA), a tool for
assessing creative-expressive abilities in seniors with dementia,
and how it compares with the Minimum Data Set (MDS 2.0) and
Measurable Assessment in Recreation for Resident-Centered Care
(MARRCC)
Sponsored by CECD Society
• May 15, 2009
Creativity and Spirituality in Healthcare Workshop
Guest Speaker, Mary Rockwood Lane, PhD
Sponsored by the 2009 Canadian CECD & BCACA Societies and Pfizer
Canada Inc.
• October 21-23, 2009
The 4th International CECD Conference 2009 in Adelaide, Australia
Arts, Ageing and Creativity… Unlocking the Potential
Co-hosted by the CECD Society (Australia) and the Aged and Community
Service South Australia and Northern Territory
• October 2010
The 5th International CECD Conference
To take place in Canada. Details to be announced
For more details, please continue to log on to our website as more
information becomes available.
All the best for the New Year,
Dalia, Hilary and the Society’s Executive Boards
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