Creative Connections
Creative Connections is the newest program of CDM Services, exploring the therapeutic benefits of the arts on those with dementia, traumatic brain injury, and other conidtions.
Currently, Creative Connections holds painting classes for clients at our adult day center facitated on a volunteer basis by Michelle Shaeffer of the Battle Ground Art Alliance.
Marti Sanders, the program's manager, and communtiy volunteers Pat La Croix, a local artist and Geoff Walker, and art therapist with Healing Earth in Camas attended the 5th International Conference on Dementia and the Arts, and will be expanding the service offerings to include music, performance art, and more. Both Pat and Geoff are members of the Clark County Arts Commission, and CDM Services is honored to have their participation in this very special project.
For more information, please call Marti Sanders at 360-896-9695, ext 15.
Creative Connections Contingent Attends International Conference:
International Conference on Dementia and the Arts
The Society for the Arts in Dementia Care hosted the 5th International Conference on Creative Expression, Communication and Dementia in Penticton, British Columbia September 30, Oct. 1 & 2, 2010. CDM Services sponsored three attendees. Pat LaCroix, Geoff Walker and Marti Sanders (*see below) who spent an absolutely amazing 3 days participating in practicums and lectures by cutting edge international researchers from Canada, Scotland, England, Australia, British Columbia and the US. Sessions targeting visual arts, music & songwriting with people with dementia, dance and movement, theater and clowning were rich in both research findings and practice.
CDM Services is now poised to take the lead in Southwest Washington to raise awareness of the power of art in the lives of people living with dementia, their families and their caregivers. Pat, Geoff & Marti will take what was learned at the conference begin a collaborative effort to cultivate the groundwork for expanding and/or developing cutting edge practices in each area of the arts here in our community.
Our intention is to articulate the voice of those with dementia and assure its presence in community planning and access to all forms of the arts. CDM will focus on developing a network of professional and student artists, dancers, actors & musicians interested in collaborating on program design and implementation at our CDM Adult Day Services Center. Prototypes developed there will be shared with families, caregivers, in-home care agencies, adult family homes and facilities serving those living with dementia in Southwest Washington. Please contact Marti Sanders, 360-896-9695 or msanders@cdmltc.org if you have any questions or are interested in joining us in this exciting work.
*Pat LaCroix is a professional artist, a Clark County Arts Commissioner, and Board Treasurer of the newly formed 501 © 3 Arts of Clark County. Geoff Walker is a licensed art therapist with a private practice in Camas and Board Vice Chair of Arts of Clark County. Marti Sanders does Community Development for CDM, facilitates CDM’s Creative Connections…Living Life in the Moment, is the Board Secretary of Battle Ground Art Alliance, serves on the Clark County Commissioner’s Task Force on Aging Readiness and is a member of the 2011 class of Leadership Clark County.
