Creative Connections™ in Dementia Care

Creative Connections in Dementia Care: Engaging Activities to Enhance Communication fulfills the promise of its title. This new book by the Reverend Katie Norris and Jennifer Brush provide the reader with wonderful tools for reaching and staying engaged with people who are living with dementia. The authors give step-by-step instructions on how to use creativity as a practical and effective tool in enriching the lives of people living with dementia. As well as providing 'recipes' for engagement, the authors also take the time to define dementia and how it may or may not affect memory systems. Reverend Norris and Ms. Brush use personal anecdotes throughout their book to illustrate how Creative Connections can positively impact the lives of people who have dementia and those who care for them. Their writing is engaging, supportive and easy to access. This book will be a bible for care partners who long for a guide that will give them practical, imaginative and effective tools for staying connected in a meaningful way with the people for whom they care. --Karen And Tom Brenner, MA (02/18/2015) Creative Connections(TM) in Dementia Care: Engaging Activities to Enhance Communication is one of the most informative and practical books on how to engage creatively with those living with dementia that I have run across; and I review a lot of books! I love how easy the book is to use. The boxes with punch lists of how's and why's, along with pictures that guide you, simplify the process and get a person excited about trying something new. The personal stories touch the heart. I wish this book would have been around when my mother had dementia. -- (01/07/2015) Creative Connections(TM) in Dementia Care by Katie Norris and Jennifer Brush provides easy-to-use, step-by-step illustrated instructions for making 10 creative art projects with persons with dementia. This unique resource explains the challenges that accompany dementia and respectful ways to communicate and to present materials to support independent creative expression of persons with dementia. Based on research-supported and person-centered principles, these recipes for art projects have the potential to facilitate meaningful and pleasurable interactions between the artists (i.e., persons with dementia) and their guide (i.e., caregiver). The authors' suggestions for modifying the activities to match client abilities and for creating variations of the projects extend the usefulness of this approach for a continuum of settings, from community to institutional care. This book is a 'must-have' for any caregiver who wants to maintain creativity and joyfulness in persons with dementia. -- (01/12/2015) Katie Norris and Jennifer Brush, in their book entitled Creative Connections, state that art is a gift. Their book is also a gift, as it clearly applies dementia care best practices to creative art projects in an easy to follow guide that is sure to inspire and engage people with dementia. With a focus on abilities, the authors take a positive approach to helping care partners find new ways to enjoy quality time with individuals who are challenged by cognitive loss. The useful step-by-step photos, supply lists, and simple guidelines for setting up creative activities make this a user-friendly book for professionals and families alike. -- (01/12/2015) This is a very informative and user-friendly book for those who care for people with dementia either at home or in institutional settings. The book gives caregivers the rationale for using art with people who have dementia and a way to engage them in ten easy-to-follow activities. -- (02/18/2015) CREATIVE CONNECTIONS(TM) IN DEMENTIA CARE: ENGAGING ACTIVITIES TO ENHANCE COMMUNICATION Creative Forecasting Editors Creative Connections(TM) in Dementia Care: Engaging Activities to Enhance Communication by Rev. Katie Norris and Jennifer Brush, MA, CCC-SLP, is a wonderful book that provides care partners with lots of information and easy-to-follow steps they need to successfully implement art projects in a small group setting or during one-to-one time. The first part of the book is a how-to manual that is an excellent introduction (or review for care partners with experience) about the benefits of art for people with cognitive impairment, what dementia is and the challenges and strengths people with this brain disorder may have, tips for preparing the environment (i.e., lighting, color, contrast), effective communication reminders, and information about the importance of offering choices, task breakdown, and knowing each person. Research shows that that art and imagination are some of the last skills to be affected by dementia, and Creative Connections(TM) in Dementia Care: Engaging Activities to Enhance Communication includes 10 basic art projects that stimulate the creativity and imagination of each artist. Also included is a supply list for each project and evaluation forms from artists' and care partners' perspectives. The 10 full-color art recipes have step-by-step photographs that demonstrate how to do them. This is an excellent book that has allows individuals with dementia to be engaged, creative, and successful. Creative Connections(TM) in Dementia Care: Engaging Activities to Enhance Communication is published by Health Professions Press. The cost is $29.99 in U.S. funds plus shipping and handling. Visit www.healthpropress.com/product/creative-connections-in-dementia-care for more information.--Creative Forecasting Magazine (02/10/2016) Creative Connections(TM) in Dementia Care is a must have book for anyone caring for someone with dementia. The book is eloquently written and provides great tools to be successful in using art to bring quality to the daily life of someone who has dementia /Alzheimer's. The art activities are simple to complete and give purpose to their day. I absolutely agree that 'Everything centers on communication for those with dementia' and art is the Creative Connection in Dementia Care to do that. -- (02/11/2015) Creative Connections(TM) is a great, hands-on, practical guide on how to care for someone with cognitive impairment. Families of patients in my practice often ask, 'What can I do to make my [loved one's] life better? Creative Connections(TM) has answers, providing instructions on how to better communicate, enrich, and enliven the lives of your family member. I recommend it to my families and I am sure you will find it a useful tool for your families and your patients. -- (02/20/2015)