INNISFAIL – A new program in Innisfail is helping people living with early stage dementia.
Art From the Heart is presented by the Innisfail Library/Learning Centre, Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) Innisfail and the Wolf Creek Primary Care Network.
The program began Oct. 1 and will run on Mondays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. every second month.
“We’ll be doing (the program) in cycles. Our first four weeks is in October,” said Karen Bradbury, community and social development coordinator. “The first hour is the art activity and in the last half an hour they’ll have a snack, coffee and tea and social time.”
Bradbury said the program will be led by local artist Mirjam Rand, an art instructor from Innisfail.
“We’ve partnered together on the program and the library is where it’s going to be held,” she said. “The library staff and the local artist are the ones that are going to facilitate the program.”
Bradbury noted how the program came together and the purpose behind it.
“It was identified in the community, that there are individuals in early stage dementia,” said Bradbury. “It’s looking at how can we keep them engaged in the community so they are still able to participate in activities.”
Rand will guide participants through a series of simple and enjoyable art projects using a variety of media, said Bradbury.
“Their needs are sometimes different. We wanted to try it and see if there was another way we can support our residents that are living with early stage dementia and also support their caregivers,” explained Bradbury, noting caregivers will have some free time for themselves during the 90-minute session.
“The library has a space set up as well so caregivers can either stay at the library, sit and read, have coffee and relax in a different area of the library while their loved one is in the program, or they have the option to leave the library and spend some time out in the community themselves,” she added.
Each 90-minute session is limited to eight participants, she noted.
Bradbury said the program will run in October and December, with the months of February, April and June to be confirmed next year.
“We’re using October and December to really determine the need for the program and if we’re going to have the participation or not,” said Bradbury.
For more information or to register for the program, contact Bradbury at 403-227-3376 ext. 233 or Allyssa Bremner at 403-227-3376 ext. 225
