My grandmother was an artist and her medium of choice was needlepoint. She was a master. As a 97-year-old in her final year of life, her once sharp and active mind began to fade. Yet her memories were still very strong. Listening to her knit different eras of her life together into the same story was fascinating.
I thought of my grandmother this week as I wrote two stories for Heritage Homes in Watertown, Wis. This dedicated senior health care facility engages its residents in the most creative activities and was recently bestowed with the Alzheimer’s Association Memories in the Making® Journaling Award.
In my research, I came across these interesting sites:
- Artist William Utermohlens’ self portraits reveal the progression of his Alzheimer’s disease.
- Scientists appreciate art as means of studying the aging mind.
- Is the blue you see the same as the one I see?
- A touching video of the Memories in the Making program.
- A local newspaper photographed intergenerational art in the making.