The diagnosis of early dementia or non-congenital brain injury is associated with major changes, for the person himself and for the immediate environment. The art and culture program RAAK! stimulates the brain and touches the experience. It offers those involved some much-needed distraction and relaxation. The strength of the program, which takes place on Tuesday afternoons at RICK, lies in the moment. Participation is without obligation.
TOUCH! is an art and culture program for people living at home with early dementia or acquired brain injury (NAH) and for their partner, loved one and/or carer! Franz and Ellie, a participating couple, say: “We both really like the fact that you interact very freely with fellow sufferers in a completely different setting than in your own home”. Every week they look forward to the Tuesday afternoon outing at RICK, where they do fun things together again and especially find the contact with people an added value. “It just clicks. Everyone is in the same boat. We are happy with this initiative.”
It has been scientifically proven that actively participating in these activities can slow down the process of dementia. Art and culture contribute to positive health.
After the first block in April, in which we got to know each other, with different art subjects and the teachers, stories/poems and visual arts were discussed until the beginning of July. In the months of September and October, the participants get to work with music and dance on Tuesday afternoons.
“Participants sometimes come up with things that surprise them or surprise their caregivers,” says Cokky, one of the teachers. “Then you see people enjoying themselves and growing a bit in self-confidence, finding themselves for a while. It is our task to put participants – both the person himself and the supervisor – in the lead role and to move along completely without expectations. Enjoy, that is the magic word.”
Punt Welzijn, RICK, Stichting Alzheimer Nederland, Alzheimer Café Weert, ZorgMies and Help for Dementia are working together in this project to reach and touch people living at home with dementia or ASD and their partner/informal carer through active cultural participation. If you are interested in participating after reading this message, please register. This can be done by telephone at Punt Welzijn (0495-6979000) or online at RICK.
Thanks to investments by various parties, participation is free of charge. Getting in and out in the meantime is no problem at all.
Watch a video: https://youtu.be/eIp3OomhfOk