"Based on Anne Basting's revolutionary book Creative Care and over twenty-five years of research for how best to connect with those living with dementia, these thirty illustrated cards and the accompanying journal make it easy for families and caregivers to bring light and joy to others, especially our elders ... fosters storytelling and active listening, allowing participants to freely share ideas and stories without worrying about getting the details 'correct'"--Back of container
Today’s elderly—especially those experiencing dementia and Alzheimer’s—are often isolated in nursing homes or segregated in elder care facilities, making the final years of life feel lonely and devoid of meaning. To alleviate elders’ sense of aloneness, Dr. Anne Basting has developed a radical approach that combines theater and improvisation methods with medically supported therapies to help them get in touch with their own creativity and become more engaged with their families and communities. Basting has developed creative techniques, rooted in twenty-five years of research, that draw on core exercises from theater. This approach fosters storytelling and active listening, allowing elders to freely share ideas and stories without worrying about getting the details absolutely “correct.” Basting’s years of research have shown that these practices stimulate the brain and awaken the imagination to add wonder and awe to patients’ daily lives—and provide them a means of connection.
Bold, optimistic, and innovative, Basting's cultural critique of dementia care offers a vision for how we can change the way we think about and care for people with memory loss.