Creativity and Communication

1. Maria S Parsons Creativity and Communication

2. Overview • What is communication? • How do we communicate? • How does dementia affect communication? • Creative arts and dementia

3. ‘My brain feels like a muddle’

4. Communication • Spoken word • Written word • Body & facial language • Braille & Talking mats

5. Non verbal communication

6. William Utermohlen:self portraits

7. Dementia: difficulties in communication Early signs • Repetitive speech • Word finding • Difficulty finding the correct word, particularly the names of objects, places, people • Substituting an incorrect word • Later signs • Difficulties in using language/ finding words • Misinterpreting visual signals so that a man’s daughter may be called ‘wife’ • Perseveration: repetition of word/phrase/sound • Eventually all language may be lost

8. Communication in the brain Different mental activities take place in different parts of the brain. Positron emission tomography (PET) scans can measure this activity. Chemicals tagged with a tracer “light up” activated regions shown in red and yellow show the brain at work

9. Common communication difficulties Asking the same question/ telling the same story Difficulty starting & continuing conversations Trouble following a conversation especially when a group of people are talking Frustration in finding words Trouble following sequenced information e.g. television programmes Starting to say something and then forgetting the thread Fabricating - saying things that are not true

10. Aphasia ‘A disorder of language affecting the content of speech and how it is created and its understanding.’ Aphasia (also known as dysphasia) is commonly accompanied by difficulties in: Reading and writing. With general conversation Answering the telephone Watching TV Listening to the radio Social & personal relationships can become very strained

11. Helpful responses Take responsibility for bridging the communication gap Reduce obstacles to communication Get attention -use the person’s preferred name Avoid confrontation Speak clearly and calmly Face to face and use gestures Summarise, wait and listen! If helpful use objects/pictures Clarify feelings and acknowledge difficulties

12. What else affects communication? Internal environment : e.g. pain, hunger, depression Sensory environment: e.g. eyesight & hearing Behavioural environment: e.g. anxiety Physical environment: e.g. noise

13. Environmental stressors The physical environment of care homes and busy hospital wards is often noisy.

14. Creative arts People with dementia respond well to music, film, photography, drama, singing, dance, visual art, ceramics, poetry Lights Up arts and memory club, Chipping Norton Modern Art Oxford: Lost In Time And Space – intergenerational film making Coffee concerts at Jacqueline de Pre Oxford City and County Council: Reminiscence groups, memory boxes & Dancing for Parkinson’s with English National Ballet Age of Opportunity website

15. Communicating through art I found I could say things with colour and shapes that I couldn't say any other way – things I had no words for  Georgia O'Keeffe

16. The loss of verbal communication and making ourselves understood is crucial for social relationships ‘Social death proceeds actual death’ Responsibility for bridging the communication gap is ours Use every means possible to communicate Promote creative arts as one of the ways of communication Contact me info@creativedementia.org THANK YOU Summary