Psychosocial Interventions Archives - DementiaHub.SG

Expressive Arts Therapy: An Introduction

Peter Cher — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 02:38:03 +0000

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Rather than focusing on artistic skill, Expressive Arts Therapy emphasises the process of creating as a way to explore feelings, experiences, and inner conflicts that may be difficult to express verbally.

Guided by a trained therapist, persons living with dementia use multiple art forms to access insight, reduce stress, build resilience, and foster integration of mind, body, and emotions in a safe, supportive environment.

Expressive Arts Therapy or EXAT is a form of psychotherapy that integrates multiple art forms—such as visual art, music, dance/movement, drama, and writing—within a therapeutic process. It is grounded in person-centred and humanistic theories; and based on models like the Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC) and principles of intermodal arts integration.

EXAT differs from traditional, single-modality art therapies, for example art therapy or music therapy, by intentionally combining diverse artistic forms to support emotional expression, self-exploration, cognitive stimulation, and psychological healing. It provides a non-verbal, sensory-rich pathway of communication for persons living with dementia, as verbal communication often becomes more challenging as dementia progresses.

The table below shows how different art forms can be used in EXAT with a specific intention:

Art Form	Examples of Use	Intention
Music	Listen to music, singing, or playing instruments.	To reduce agitation and anxiety; moderate mood; and support non-verbal communication.
Drama	Use movement, role-play, puppetry, mirroring, or improvisational storytelling.	To externalise inner conflicts and gain new perspectives in a safe and supported environment.
Dance/ Movement	Use body movements and gestures to express emotions, opinons, thoughts, and identity.	To promote mind-body sensitivity and awareness, emotional release and expression.
Poetry/ Storytelling	Journal down poetry, narrative storytelling, free writing.	Bridges the gap between visuals and feelings, allowing one to articulate unspoken thoughts, gain insights and construct meanings.
Visual Art	Create or engage with images through painting, drawing, sculpting or art appreciation.	To access, process and communicate complex emotions, thoughts, and trauma.

Differentiate Expressive Arts Therapy from Expressive Arts Programmes

EXAT is often misunderstood as or confused with Expressive Arts Programme. It is, therefore, essential to know the differences between these two approaches.

What Expressive Arts Therapy (EXAT) Is	What Expressive Arts Programme Is
A psychotherapy approach delivered by a trained mental health professional that integrates multiple art modalities within a therapeutic framework.	Recreational, educational, or social activities involving art, music, dance, or other creative forms without a formal therapeutic process.
Grounded in psychological and art-based theories, it aims to explore emotions, identity, cognitive stimulation, and psychological healing.	Focuses on enjoyment, reminiscence, cultural engagement, entertainment, or sensory stimulation.
Facilitated by trained expressive arts therapists.	Facilitated by activity staff, volunteers, or artists without clinical training.

Between the two, only EXAT is designed to cater for psychological and emotional needs through a structured therapeutic process.

Benefits of Expressive Arts Therapy (EXAT)

EXAT provides a safe, supportive, and flexible space for participants—including persons living with dementia and caregivers—who seek emotional and/or psychological support.

Benefits for Persons Living with Dementia

Bypasses verbal limitations by offering sensory, emotional, and embodied ways to express themselves.
Reconnects individuals to their sense of identity and life story.
Addresses unmet emotional and sensory needs, contributing to reduced agitation, anxiety, and wandering.
Enhances mood, confidence, and a sense of self-worth.

Benefits for Caregivers

Provides a safe space to process emotional stress and grief.
Strengthens self-awareness and reconnects caregivers to their own identity beyond the caregiving role.
Offers creative tools for stress relief and emotional release.
Builds resilience and emotional regulation skills to cope with daily challenges.

Getting Started

You may wish to consider any of these simple activities to help you get started:

Music and Rhythm

Visual Arts

Movement

Story Telling

Multi-sensory

Music and Rhythm

Visual Arts

Movement

Story Telling

Multi-sensory

Additional Tips

#1

Create space by clearing clutter and arranging chairs in a circle.
#2

Be a part of the activity to set the tone that you are not there to teach the activity.
#3

Use prompts that invite exploration, play and curiosity, such as: “Let’s see what happens if we do this,” rather than giving direct instructions.
#4

Be warm and supportive without slipping into “child-like” language.
#5

Speak with respect, using clear and simple phrasing while preserving the dignity of each person.
#6

Give participants some breathing space. There is no need to fill every minute with tasks. It is all right to experience moments of silence. If someone chooses not to take part in the activity, let him be — he may simply need more time to feel safe. Some participants may take a few sessions to settle in, so allow the pace to unfold naturally.

Conclusion

The use of diverse art modalities creates a relaxed, playful and engaging environment where participants can express their feelings and experiences.

For persons living with dementia, EXAT can help bypass cognitive limitations by tapping into sensorial, emotional, and embodied forms of communication. For caregivers, EXAT provides a safe outlet to express emotions, manage stress, reconnect with their inner selves, and improves overall well-being.

It nurtures curiosity, invites play, and supports a sense of identity and self-worth by offering opportunities for meaningful self-expression despite the changes dementia brings.

Author's Bio

Rachel Lim is a registered expressive arts therapist with ANZACATA and currently leads the development of Expressive Arts Therapy services at Dementia Singapore Ltd. With a master’s degree in Expressive Arts Therapy from the University of Hong Kong and a background in psychology, Rachel specialises in supporting persons living with dementia and their caregivers through creative, sensory-based approaches.

Lusebrink, V. B. (2010). Assessment and therapeutic application of the expressive therapies continuum: Implications for brain structures and functions. Art Therapy, 27(4), 168-177.

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Music Therapy – a Symptomatic Treatment of Dementia

Peter Cher — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 07:27:39 +0000

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Music is a complex composition of melody, harmony, rhythm, timbre, tempo, dynamics, form, texture, and words or lyrics. These elements, when put together, have a profound effect on the listener’s emotions, behaviour, and memory. When used appropriately, music can be a useful and effective tool to optimise the quality of life for persons living with dementia.

With these unique qualities, music has been widely used as a potentially beneficial intervention to improve moods, cognitive function, memory, and communication. This is commonly known as music therapy. Music therapy can also provide opportunities for socialisation and connection between individuals with dementia and people around them in both personal sphere and group setting.

In this article, we explore the use of music therapy as a non-pharmacological intervention to improve cognitive and behavioural symptoms in persons living with dementia, the possible effects and benefits of music therapy, and how music therapy is used in Singapore to better or enhance the quality of life of those living with dementia.

Benefits of Music Therapy for Persons Living with Dementia

Non-pharmacological approaches like music-based interventions are regarded as low-risk, accessible and inclusive as an approach to managing behavioural psychological symptoms of dementia or BPSDs, compared to pharmacological interventions.

Based on recent studies, music therapy has gained worldwide popularity in managing symptoms of dementia over the years. It is found that musical training can help mitigate effects of cognitive impairments and increase the capacity of persons to remember music.

In a study on persons living with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), researchers found that persons with AD showed improvement in word fluency, biographical memory, and memory of the lyrics after participating in music therapy sessions.

Here are some of the benefits music therapy can have on persons living with dementia, as supported by several studies:

	Potential Benefits of Music Therapy for Persons Living with Dementia
1.	Improves mood and reduces agitation	Music can evoke positive emotions and memories. This can help alleviate depressive symptoms and other negative emotions such as anxiety and agitation which are common behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.
2.	Enhances cognitive function	Music can improve certain cognitive and executive functions such as verbal fluency, recollection of lyrics/memories, and assists in Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).
3.	Enhances communication	Music can serve as a non-verbal communication tool that helps persons living with dementia to express their thoughts.
4.	Improves socialisation and connection with people	Group music activities can eliminate isolation and loneliness.
5.	Improves quality of life	All the benefits can lead to improved quality of life. It is especially beneficial to those who are battling with emotional symptoms, such as anxiety.

Supported Evidence of Music Therapy

The use of customised music playlist in medical setting has been proven effective in combating (disinhibited) behavioural symptoms of people living with dementia. Studies reported a rise in positive results in recent years.

Here are some evidence-based statistics that support the effectiveness of music therapy in managing BPSDs or behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, including agitation, aggression depression, anxiety and apathy, particularly in moderate stage of dementia:

A meta-analysis of 17 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) by Zhang et al. (2017) found out that music therapy significantly reduced disruptive behaviours of persons living with dementia.
An RCT conducted by Raglio et. al. (2010) revealed that individualised music therapy had a 30 per cent reduction in disruptive behaviours compared to control group.
A Cochrane review (2018) that analysed 22 trials with over 1,097 participants saw music-based intervention resulted in significant reduction in depressive symptoms.

“Music Therapy is a person-centered, non-pharmacological approach that supports emotional well-being, cognitive function, and social interaction. It also provides opportunities for caregiver participation, strengthening emotional bonds and offering shared joyful experiences. The structured yet flexible format makes it accessible and highly beneficial for persons with dementia, including those in moderate stages. It is also listed as a recommended intervention for BPSD as part of the clinical guidelines for dementia by Singapore’s Ministry of Health.”

R. S. Chandraajothi, Senior Centre Manager, Care Services - New Horizon Centre Bukit Batok & Jurong Point, Dementia Singapore

Music has the power to evoke emotions and help persons living with dementia recall and share their life stories with their caregivers and vice versa. Furthermore, music therapy activities can easily and effectively be incorporated into other forms of therapy such as reminiscence therapy and art therapy.

Here are some practical, meaningful, and evidenced-based activities (and their benefits) you can incorporate into the lives of persons living with dementia:

Create a personalised playlist that includes your loved one’s favourite songs from his youth/era or culture. This can trigger fond memories and facilitate conversation.
Encourage your loved ones to sway along or clap to the rhythm and tempo of the music. This can improve movements and functional abilities.
Play soothing and familiar music to help your loved one manage emotions, moods, and relieve anxiety and pain.
Encourage your loved one with dementia to sing along to his favourite songs. This will improve speech articulation and fluency over time.
Combine music with visual art such as painting to encourage self-expression and enhance creativity.

Conclusion

As research continues to validate the effectiveness and benefits of music therapy, integrating music therapy into dementia care not only honours the personhood of persons living with dementia, but it is also an accessible and meaningful way to connect them with their loved ones. In the gentle rhythm of familiar melodies, many find joy, comfort and more importantly a renewed sense of identity and dignity that enhance their quality of life.

Bleibel, M., El Cheikh, A., Sadier, N.S. et al. The effect of music therapy on cognitive functions in patients with Alzheimer’s disease: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Alz Res Therapy 15, 65 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-023-01214-9
Shirsat A, Jha RK, Verma P. Music Therapy in the Treatment of Dementia: A Review Article. Cureus. 2023 Mar 31;15(3):e36954. doi: 10.7759/cureus.36954. PMID: 37139292; PMCID: PMC10151115.
Zhang, Y., Cai, J., An, L., Hui, F., Ren, T., Ma, H., Zhao, Q. (2017). Does music therapy enhance behavioural and cognitive function in elderly dementia patients? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Ageing Research Reviews, 35, 1–11. DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2016.12.003
Van der Steen, J. T., Smaling, H. J. A., van der Wouden, J. C., Bruinsma, M. S., Scholten, R. J. P. M., & Vink, A. C. (2018). Music-based therapeutic interventions for people with dementia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2018(7), CD003477. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003477.pub4
Raglio, A., Bellelli, G., Traficante, D., Gianotti, M., Ubezio, M. C., Gentile, S., Villani, D., & Trabucchi, M. (2010). Efficacy of music therapy treatment based on cycles of sessions: A randomised controlled trial. Ageing & Mental Health, 14(8), 900–904.

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Creating a Life Story for Persons with Dementia

Admin — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 13:03:20 +0000

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Discover the powerful impact of life story work in dementia care. This article explores how gathering and reflecting on personal narratives enriches identity, deepens empathy, and fosters meaningful connections for persons living with dementia and caregivers alike.

What is a Life Story?

Everyone has their own, unique life story. Our life experiences, beliefs, likes and dislikes, shape us as individuals. Life story work is an activity in which a person living with dementia is facilitated by family members and/or healthcare professionals to gather and review their past. The process of engaging in life story work helps the person to share their stories and enhance their sense of identity¹.

Persons Living with Dementia and their Life Story

As dementia progresses, persons living with dementia can experience problems with communication and memory loss. Incorporating personal narratives and biographical knowledge while caring for a person living with dementia has been shown to increase caregiver’s empathy and uphold person-centred care².

What is the Purpose of a Life Story Resource?

Provide a guide for family members and/or care staffs to discover the person;
Celebrate life achievements, special events, holidays, and other occasions that have been historically important to the person;
Promote and support mental stimulation;
Provide emotional comfort and pleasure;
Help engage the person in meaningful conversations about the past where memories are more vibrant and clearer;
Encourage social interactions between the person living with dementia, family members, and caregivers;
Provide meaningful interaction to calm the person living with dementia if overwhelmed by other people, events, and noises in the environment;
Use as a refocusing tool to support the person living with dementia in new and unfamiliar surroundings (e.g. hospital, moving to nursing home, changing rooms, etc.)³.

Making a Life Story Resource

Information Gathering

Gather information about the person living with dementia from family members, care staff, case files, or directly from the person living with dementia themselves.

Preparation of Materials

Prepare materials to create a life story, including old photographs, keepsakes, thick files, colored papers, decorative items, colored pencils, paint, glue, scissors, and clear plastic folders.

Topic Selection

Suggested topics to include in a life story:

About me – personal bio
Favourite food
Occupation
Home
Childhood
Favourite Idols
Travel
Retirement
Relationships – Significant relationship with family and friends
Legacy

If the person living with dementia has experienced sad or traumatic events that would cause great distress, you may want to avoid revisiting these life events. However, it may be helpful to explain these on a separate document that can be given to family members or other caregivers so that they can identify whether changes in behaviours are related to a specific events that have happened in the past.

What Does a Life Story Look Like?

When developing a life story with a person living with dementia, one of the following formats, or a combination of formats, can be considered:

Book

Collage

Video recording

Memory box

Personal profile document

Mobile phone application

The life story can be designed in any way that is meaningful to the person living with dementia. Those who prefer to do this virtually can do so using CARA, a lifestyle and community digital platform that provides easy access for persons living with dementia and caregivers to connect to an ecosystem of solutions via a mobile application. CARA has introduced a Care Circle feature, which allows family caregivers to collaborate on shared notes and create Memories, honouring and celebrating the life of their loved one with dementia. These Memory records can be used as personalised content, making every interaction throughout the dementia journey a meaningful one. Find out more about Care Circle here.

However, if you are looking for a more structured template, you can refer to the following resources:

Life Story Template
Source: Dementia UK

Dementia UK’s Life Story template is a practical tool for capturing personal histories, particularly for those with dementia. It offers customisable sections and a straightforward approach for easy documentation. Get started on your story today.

This is Me Template
Source: Alzheimer Society

This is me serves as a tool for life story work, helping caregivers record important details about the background, preferences, and significant life events of the person living with dementia. By using This is me, health and social care professionals can provide more personalised and attentive care based on a deeper understanding of the person living with dementia.

How Do You Engage Persons Living with Dementia in Creating a Life Story Resource?

Involving the person living with dementia as much as possible makes the life story more likely to reflect the person’s wishes and preferences and encourages a sense of ownership. The person living with dementia may also have very different views about the purpose of their life story resource. Respect their wishes about what goes into the life story and who will see it, now and in the future.

Engage and help them where needed, and write or type the information gathered so that they can see the story forming, with you. Try not to overload them with questions. It may be easier to start the conversations with open-ended questions. For example, you might say, “Can you share more about where you grew up?”.

Learn more about effective communication with persons living with dementia here.

Creating the life story may take days, weeks, or even months. Remember that you can always add more information to it later and check in with other family members and friends to provide key information if needed. Remember to also be sensitive as reflecting on one’s life can be emotional.

Conclusion

A life story resource does not stop here. It is retold and remains unfinished. It is also more likely to be successful if life story work is initiated early in the dementia journey. Do continue to add on to the stories and information as conversations with persons living with dementia continues.

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Integrating Play into Dementia Treatment Plans

aleene.chow — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 03:19:29 +0000

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Dementia, a progressive neurological disorder affecting millions globally, prompts a multidimensional approach to care. While pharmaceutical interventions are prevalent, the recognition of non-pharmacological strategies is on the rise. Play, seemingly incongruous with dementia, can also be incorporated into non-pharmacological treatments for dementia.

This article provides an overview of the benefits, types of activities, and strategies for incorporating play into dementia stage care settings.

Play as part of Non-Pharmacological Interventions in Dementia Care

Non-pharmacological interventions play a pivotal role in dementia care. These interventions encompass psychological, behavioral, and social techniques, enhancing overall care and optimizing cognitive and emotional functioning. These interventions generally focus on 6 functional domains¹:

Auditory music and rhythm
Visuospatial and fine motor skills
Language and verbal skills
Executive functions
Kinaesthetic and gross motor skills
Social functioning

Examples of non-pharmacological interventions which incorporate elements of play include:

Benefits of Play in Dementia Treatment

Engaging in play stimulates multiple brain areas², which over time can promote cognitive flexibility and problem-solving skills. It evokes positive emotions, boosts self-esteem, and improves social interaction. As early as a decade ago, play has been used as part of dementia treatments and has shown positive results for attention, concentration, memory and orientation³. A formal review of 15 such play interventions also pointed to greater emotional stability, cognitive functioning and general quality of life for persons living with dementia⁴.

Play can also serve as a therapeutic outlet for managing behavioral symptoms like agitation. It redirects focus, alleviates restlessness and reduces anxiety. Physical play activities, such as gentle aerobic exercises or dance movements, contribute to improved mobility, balance, and overall well-being.

In addition to these benefits, play enhances the quality of life by providing moments of joy, laughter, and connection. It creates opportunities for social engagement, fostering a sense of belonging and community.

Types of Play Activities for Persons Living with Dementia

Sensory Stimulation Activities

Using different scents, tactile experiences, and familiar mus.ic for multisensory engagement.
Using scents the individual associates with positive memories and different textures for enhanced stimulation.

Creative Expression through Arts and Crafts

Crafting activities for self-expression and emotional well-being.
Painting, sculpting, and creating collages for individuality and personal expression.
Different types of art like nagomi

Simple Games and Puzzles

Word puzzles, spatial reasoning games, and adapted board games for cognitive stimulation.
Adapting traditional games for accessibility and enjoyment.

Reminiscence and Storytelling Activities

Sharing personal stories and looking through photo albums for memory recall.
Reading aloud and engaging in group discussions for cognitive stimulation and social connection.

Strategies for Implementing Play in Dementia Care Settings

When integrating play into care settings, we have to consider the stage of dementia progression⁵ the individual is experiencing. It is best to carefully plan the activities to the needs of the person living with dementia and adjust with ongoing evaluation. Consider the following strategies:

Assessing the Person’s Individual Preferences:
- Conduct thorough assessments to understand preferences, abilities, and dementia stage.
- Tailor play activities based on assessments for maximum engagement.
Training Caregivers and Staff:
- Provide comprehensive training on incorporating play into daily care routines.
- Include strategies for adapting activities, being responsive to behaviour changes, and ensuring a safe environment.
Adapting Activities Based on stage of Dementia Progression:
- Regularly assess and adapt play activities to accommodate changing needs.
- Modify complexity, duration, or format to ensure continued stimulation and enjoyment.

Enhancing Engagement and Wellbeing with Dementia Toys

Specialized toys designed for people whose cognition has been affected by dementia can play a crucial role in enhancing their engagement during therapy sessions and increase their overall well-being. These dementia toys are designed with features that cater to their unique needs and preferences.

Here are some options for toys that you can use during play activities:

Sensory Stimulation Toys

Fidget Blankets: These blankets incorporate various textures, fabrics, and attachments, providing tactile stimulation and a soothing sensory experience.
Light-Up Sensory Balls: Colorful, soft balls with built-in LED lights that respond to touch, offering visual and tactile stimulation.

Reminiscence and Memory-Enhancing Toys

Memory Jogging Puzzles: Customized puzzles featuring familiar images or scenes from the past, promoting memory recall and cognitive stimulation.
Life Story Dolls: Personalized dolls with features resembling loved ones, sparking conversations and triggering memories.

Interactive Music and Sound Toys

Musical Memory Boxes: Personalized boxes that play familiar tunes or recorded messages, evoking memories and creating a sense of comfort.
Interactive Sing-Along Plush Toys: Soft toys that respond to touch by playing familiar songs, encouraging social interaction and enjoyment.

Adapted Games and Activities

Large Print Playing Cards: Playing cards with enlarged print for easy visibility, facilitating card games, and enhancing cognitive function.
Adapted Board Games: Specially designed board games with simplified rules and larger game pieces, promoting social engagement and enjoyment.
Adaptive Sports: Sporting activities modified to enable the active participation of players with differing abilities. These include Floorball and Ten-pin bowling suitable for players using wheelchairs. These activities facilitate a sense of achievement, boost mood and wellbeing

Motor-skill and Exercise Toys

Gentle Exercise Bands: Soft resistance bands designed for gentle exercises, promoting mobility, and improving muscle strength.
Balloon Volleyball Set: A lightweight set for seated balloon volleyball, encouraging physical activity and hand-eye coordination.

Integrating play into dementia treatment plans offers a myriad of benefits for the person’s overall well-being. By enhancing cognitive, emotional, and social well-being, play provides you with a sense of dignity, engagement, and purpose. Using the person-centered approach, diverse play activities, and caregiver training can transform dementia care settings into enriching environments for the person living with dementia, promoting their holistic well-being.

In conclusion, the integration of play into dementia treatment plans is not just a therapeutic strategy; it is also a profound avenue for enhancing the lives of those navigating the challenges of dementia. The diverse range of non-pharmacological interventions, coupled with the thoughtful inclusion of dementia toys, creates a holistic approach that goes beyond traditional medical models.

Play is a powerful tool in dementia care that has important cognitive, emotional and social benefits. By acknowledging the person’s individuality, tailoring activities to the person’s preferences, and recognizing the importance of play, we can pave the way for moments of joy, connection, and self-expression.

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ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR

MARY ANNE ROBERTO

Mary Anne Roberto, co-founder of Always Home Connected, is a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) and PAC certified independent consultant. As a specialist in dementia care, she aims to create awareness about those experiencing cognitive changes and to provide caregivers with the necessary resources and tools to alleviate some of the challenges they face on a day-to-day basis.

The Power of Self-advocates in Dementia

Peter Cher — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 01:17:19 +0000

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As a person living with dementia or a care partner of one, feelings of frustration are not uncommon, especially when navigating spaces and systems that are not designed to meet your needs. In times like this, have you ever felt like something has to be said and done so that you, and others like you in the community, do not have to feel this way again? Have you ever wanted to take the lead in making these changes? If you have, you may want to consider becoming a dementia self-advocate.

Self-advocates have been essential in bringing about positive change, especially in the disability movement¹. In fact, policies, research studies and various other dementia-related initiatives have benefitted from the involvement of persons living with dementia and their care partners in the development phase. ²

Read on to find out what advocacy is, why it is important, and how you can become one.

What Does Advocacy Mean?

Advocacy is about having a voice. It is about speaking up on what you believe in to achieve personal and collective change. Unsurprisingly, advocacy and empowerment go hand in hand, in that advocates are empowered to influence matters that affect them and take charge of their lives.

In the context of dementia, advocacy can involve the sharing of stories, raising awareness about the issues faced as a person living with dementia or a care partner, and creating a positive change for the dementia community on a larger scale. Persons living with dementia and care partners involved in such advocacy efforts are often referred to as self-advocates.

Being a dementia self-advocate is no easy feat. It takes a lot of courage and strength to speak up for yourself especially as a person living with dementia, where the common misconception is that persons living with the condition may not be able to think or decide for themselves. However, with the support of an already existing network of advocates and programmes aimed at empowering persons living with dementia to lead purposeful lives, anyone can become a self-advocate. The work put into becoming one will also be worthwhile as you will be better equipped to represent your community, as well as enable and empower others around you to build a dementia-inclusive society.

Why Should Persons Living with Dementia and Their Caregivers be Involved in Self-advocacy Efforts?

Research has shown that dementia advocacy offers potential improvements in well-being for those involved, through the activity itself and via extension of the advocate’s social networks.³ While these benefits are notable, it is also important to recognise that:

Persons living with dementia and their caregivers have a right to be involved in decisions that impact their lives.
Persons living with dementia bring with them lived experiences, knowledge and skills that may not be obtainable from organisational stakeholders. Furthermore, dementia manifests itself differently in every person living with dementia. This means that more voices are needed to ensure diverse and accurate representation of dementia in the community.

What Does Advocacy Look Like in Singapore?

As Singapore works towards the goal of dementia-inclusivity, significant effort has been put into raising public awareness about dementia and making the necessary amendments to services, policies and physical spaces to better meet the needs of persons living with dementia and their care partners. This opens up more space for dementia advocacy, which allows advocates to act as story tellers, co-facilitators, co-creators and active contributors to the conversation surrounding dementia.

Advocacy efforts come in all shapes and sizes. Self-advocates can be involved in as much or as little as they would like in a wide range of activities, including:

Research opportunities

Involvement in research may include providing advice on research priorities and methodologies, speaking with various stakeholders, being a research participant or working as a research partner on the project.

Participating as a representative on advisory boards or committees

Advocates can choose to do this on a local and/or global scale.

Providing input and having a say on issues related to the dementia cause

Emily Ong is a member on the Alzheimer’s Disease International (A.D.I.) Board of Directors for the position of person with dementia. She also serves in the Global Review Panel of the A.D.I. Accreditation Team and is a focus group member of the WHO Global Dementia Observatory Knowledge Exchange.

In this blogpost, she shares her journey as a dementia advocate, and how she has stepped up her advocacy efforts at the regional and global levels.

Read on to find out more.

Sharing their stories on various platforms

Storytelling is a powerful way to connect with and inspire one another, which explains why it is an effective tool in advocacy. Advocates may choose to share their stories in various ways such as on their personal social media platforms and in media interviews.

Sharing personal experiences and inspiring others on various platforms

As the primary caregiver to Rodney, her husband living with dementia, Jacinta’s caregiving journey has been filled with ups and downs. But through it all, she continues to do her best to support him in all that he does and empowers him to live his life meaningfully. Theirs is a story of love, courage, and perseverance.

In this blogpost, Jacinta sheds light on Rodney’s diagnosis, their shared challenges, and the steps they take together to overcome them.

Read on to find out more.

Providing feedback on various initiatives, policies and dementia care innovations

The involvement of advocates, especially from the planning stage, is effective in identifying service gaps as well as examining existing policies, services and solutions to ensure that they are meeting the basic and evolving needs of the dementia community.

SBS Transit & “Find Your Way” Initiative

A collaborative effort between SBS Transit and Dementia Singapore, “Find Your Way” aims to help persons with dementia navigate bus interchanges and MRT stations with ease. This wayfinding initiative was inspired by past research studies, which have found reminiscence to be effective in stimulating parts of the brain that deal with long-term memory and cognition.

Dementia self-advocates Anjang Rosli and Emily Ong served as advisors to this initiative.

Read on to find out more.

Public education

As more focus has been placed on increasing public knowledge and awareness about dementia, many learning institutions and workplaces have actively sought out experts in the field of dementia to educate students and staff on the topic. Coupled with facts and information, advocates also share their lived experiences and call-to-action with those present.

The Many Voices of Dementia
Source: Alzheimer’s Society

The Many of Voices of Dementia Advocacy is a short film with seven people living with dementia in different countries, talking about their experiences of self-advocating, their motivation, and top tips. It was produced by Alzheimer’s Society, 3 Nations Dementia Working Group (3NDWG) and Dementia Alliance International (D.A.I.) as part of a project exploring dementia self-advocacy and inclusion.

Want to Become a Dementia Self-advocate?

Voices for Hope

Voices for Hope is an empowerment programme aimed at empowering persons living with dementia and their care partners to embark on their self-advocacy journey. Piloted in 2019, it is a 10-week programme that equips participants with relevant skills and fosters confidence in them to actively share their stories, their needs and views publicly. The goal of Voices for Hope is to change societal attitudes, reduce the stigma of dementia and improve the landscape of how persons living with dementia are perceived and supported.

Who should join

Voices for Hope is best suited for persons who are diagnosed with mild-stage dementia, fairly proficient in communication and articulation, and with stable care arrangements.

How to join

For more information on how to sign up for the programme, click here.

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Cognitive Intervention Programme (CIP)

Admin — Mon, 22 May 2023 08:30:58 +0000

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The Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) has introduced the Cognitive Intervention Programme (CIP) — an evidence-based programme designed to support persons diagnosed with mild to moderate dementia. It aims to maintain and improve cognitive and social function through structured multi-component activities. Through these three-hour sessions (across seven weeks, twice per week), participants can enjoy activities such as physical exercises, cognitive training or stimulation, and social engagement.

Overtime, Willie’s family members and caregiver observed that he enjoyed the activities and could foster friendships with others. At home, he became more active by moving around, watching TV, reading newspapers, and going to the neighbourhood mall for haircuts and handled his basic needs. He was also more cheerful, jovial, and less lethargic.

Willie’s caregiver also noticed that he could remember his personal particulars, and could manage small sums of money independently.

Willie opted to complete the CIP within six months.

Participant considerations

Participants diagnosed with mild to moderate dementia are suitable for CIP.

Caregiver accompaniment may be required during sessions for participants who:

Are at higher risk of falling in general
Need assistance with sit-stand transfers
Need assistance with toileting

How do I sign up for CIP?

You may contact one of the following options to find out more:

A medical social worker, nurse, or doctor at a hospital and polyclinic
A Community Outreach Team (CREST) or a Community Intervention Team (COMIT)
- A list of CREST and COMIT teams can be found in this page under the “Support and Services on Dementia” section
Speak to an AIC representative in person at any AIC Link location
Contact the programme providers directly

To find out more about CIP, please click here.

CIP Service Providers

Programme Name	Address
CareLibrary by Care Community Services Society Ms Jolina Thong Tel: 9385 8773	CarePoint 103 Lavender Street, #02-01 Singapore 338725
Family of Wisdom by Dementia Singapore Ms Eunice Tan Tel: 8020 5006	BS Bendemeer Centre 20 Bendemeer Road, #01-02 Singapore 339914
Fun with Friends by NTUC Health Tel: 6715 6715	Bukit Batok West Blk 439 Bukit Batok West Ave 8, #02-01 NTUC Health Day Centre for Seniors Singapore 650439
	Jurong Centrala Blk 402 Jurong West St 42, #01-525 NTUC Health Active Ageing Hub Singapore 640402
	Kampung Admiralty 676 Woodlands Drive 71, #06-01 NTUC Health Active Ageing Hub Singapore 730676
	Chai Chee 35 Chai Chee Street, Level 2, Singapore 468984

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Museum Activities for Persons Living with Dementia

Admin — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 01:48:29 +0000

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Museums serve as iconic cultural landmarks in Singapore and are considered community spaces for many art, history and science lovers in the country. This includes persons living with dementia and their caregivers. However, persons living with dementia may feel uneasy and experience difficulty navigating and engaging with artefacts owing to a number of reasons. These range from a museum’s layout to other dementia-specific factors like overstimulation and communication needs.

Fortunately, conscious efforts have been made to ensure that museums serve as safe, accessible and conducive environments that offer various meaningful activities that are tailored to the needs of persons living with dementia.

Here is a list of museums that offer a variety of activities that you can do with your loved one living with dementia:

National Gallery Singapore

1. Art With You

Source: National Gallery Singapore

Art with You is an evidence-based programme developed by National Gallery Singapore (NGS) in partnership with Dementia Singapore (DSG). Aimed at fostering positive and meaningful interactions that support the wellbeing of caregivers and persons living with dementia, it combines person-centred care with arts engagement to create a space where your loved one is respected, understood and empowered.

Art with You comprises two main components. In the first half of the programme, participants are taken on a tour of a curated group of artefacts specially selected based on various themes. Both you and your loved one are encouraged to share your thoughts and memories connected to the artworks. In the second half of the programme, your loved one living with dementia can partake in simple art-making activities inspired by the artefacts or artworks seen previously. These activities afford persons living with dementia the opportunity to exercise fine motor skills and express themselves creatively.

Those interested to participate in Art with You may do so in the following ways:

Guided Group Visits

• Led by trained docents at NGS

• Minimum group size: Two pairs of caregivers and persons living with dementia

• Maximum group size: Four pairs of caregivers and persons living with dementia

Please contact community@nationalgallery.sg for more information about group visits

Self-guided Visits

• You and your loved one with dementia can experience the programme at your own pace with the help of the Art with You Caregivers Guide and Art Kit (art-making materials).

The Art with You Caregivers Guide and Art Kit are free. Find out where you can locate these resources at NGS here.

To further encourage those impacted by dementia to participate in this programme, NGS is providing free All Access Admission and paid Back-of-House tours to all persons living with dementia and one accompanying caregiver (including CARA members).

For more information on ticketing and concessions, please visit https://www.nationalgallery.sg/admissions.

2. Calm Room

Source: National Gallery Singapore

Persons living with dementia may sometimes display feelings of distress, agitation and anxiety for various reasons. Often, the triggers for behavioural changes are external to your loved one, rather than an inevitable consequence of their dementia progression. These external triggers include problems in the social and physical environments that can be addressed and managed.

If situations like these arise, you may bring your loved one living with dementia to The Calm Room, which is a dedicated space at NGS where visitors can rest if they are feeling over-stimulated or overwhelmed by their environment. It is a soothing and sensory-friendly space where your loved one may take their time to calm down, regulate their stress responses, and recalibrate in private.

It contains a variety of sensory items, such as fidget toys and weighted blankets, aimed at supporting and allowing visitors with sensory needs to control their sensory experience.

Additionally, the room is wheelchair-accessible and features an ambient soundscape and private seating pods. If necessary, the lighting and sound levels in the room can also be adjusted.

National Museum of Singapore

1. Reunion

Source: National Museum of Singapore

Reunion is a dedicated social space in the National Museum of Singapore for seniors, including those living with mild cognitive impairment and dementia, to engage in meaningful activities and conversations inspired by museum artefacts.

Reunion has two main areas – a space for various individual and group activities as well as a café. The all-inclusive activity space features a designated area for group activities, music booths, an immersive projective cave and a Quiet Room.

Group activities
There are handling objects and conversation starter guides featuring the museum’s National Collection that are located around the Reunion space. Visitors are encouraged to pick them up for use and engage in reminiscence conversations with others. There are also other kinds of activities such as monthly workshops and Quiet Morning Drop-ins which allow visitors to explore the museum’s collection and stories through hands-on activities featuring different art forms.
Music booth
Persons living with dementia and their caregivers can select familiar tunes on an easy-to-navigate display panel.
Immersive projective cave
Also known as Memory Lane, this section of the space allows visitors to create their own digital exhibitions and view virtual exhibitions designed by past participants.
Quiet Room
This room serves as a safe space for visitors who might experience sensory overload and need a private and relaxing environment to decompress before resuming their museum visit.

The café, known as Café Brera, is a perfect spot for hearty conversations with family and friends. It also serves dysphagia-friendly food, which is suitable for those with swallowing difficulties.

For more information about programmes for seniors that are held at Reunion, please visit https://go.gov.sg/reunionprogs.

2. Senior-friendly On-site Tours

Source: National Museum of Singapore

This is an on-site tour of the museum’s permanent galleries specially designed for seniors, including persons living with dementia and their caregivers, guided by the museum’s Care Facilitators. It explores a different theme every month and participants are encouraged to share their experiences and personal stories while exploring artefacts in the museum’s collection.

Find out more about the on-site tour at the National Museum of Singapore here.

3. Senior-friendly Virtual Tours

Held on every third Thursday of the month, this is a virtual tour conducted via Zoom. Similar to the on-site tour, it is guided by the museum’s Care Facilitators. It is currently being conducted in English only.

Find out more about the on-site tour at the National Museum of Singapore here.

4. Self-guided Tour

Should you and your loved one prefer to explore the museum by yourselves, you may do so with the aid of the NMS Easy Guide. It is free to download, with limited physical copies available at the museum.

This guide will allow for a fuss-free planning experience and is also suitable for use as a conversational toolkit.

Find out where you can locate a physical copy or download the NMS Easy Guide here.

With ongoing efforts to make various spaces in Singapore more dementia-inclusive, there is no doubt that this list will continue to grow.

These programmes and activities are beneficial to persons living with dementia as well as caregivers like yourself. As most of the tours are guided by docents and/or staff, caregivers are given the opportunity to take a breather from their caregiving responsibilities while providing an opportunity for your loved one with dementia to participate in meaningful activities.

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Reminiscence Arts

Admin — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 08:47:14 +0000

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Caring for our loved ones living with dementia often involves seeking effective ways to ensure that they live a life that is enriched and meaningful, even as their dementia progresses. One way to do that is by means of Reminiscence Arts.

Linking activities such as artmaking to reminiscence help create a sense of self-discovery and allow our loved ones to interact creatively through their art, amongst other benefits.¹ Another advantage to Reminiscence Arts is that anyone, including family caregivers, can conduct these activities for and with persons living with dementia. All you need is a laptop or tablet, some art materials and you are all set to have meaningful, deeper dialogues.

The act of reminiscence involves the discussion of past events and experiences with the aid of prompts such as photographs, music, and objects. Known benefits of reminiscence therapy in the context of dementia care include improvements in communication with staff and family, cognition, mood, and quality of life.²

Reminiscence Arts is an extension of reminiscence therapy. It incorporates the elements of creative art and artmaking, such as painting and clay-making, into the exploration of past life experiences. At the heart of it is the focus on empowering persons living with dementia to express themselves through a range of art mediums, providing various modes of stimulation and deepening levels of engagement. When done effectively, Reminiscence Arts can have a profound impact on relationships, learning, care, and creativity in the present.

How is it meaningful for persons living with dementia?

The act of artmaking in Reminiscence Arts can serve as an empowering experience for persons living with early or moderate-stage dementia because it affords them the opportunity to create and actualise a piece of artwork. When their work is completed, it can also ignite a sense of achievement, ownership, and gratification within our loved ones.

Persons living with dementia are also encouraged to share the stories and meaning behind their art with their peers, family, and care staff, which promotes verbal communication and socialisation. These merits are also echoed by the growing body of research surrounding creative art, which have noted its effectiveness in promoting social inclusion, promoting self-esteem, and enhancing caring relationships.³

Additionally, Reminiscence Arts encourages imaginative play which provides sensory, visual, and tactile stimulation. These qualities are limited in other forms of reminiscence that are largely conversation-based. The concept of imaginative play also implies that persons living with dementia do not need to have any experience with artmaking. The main aim of such activities is for them to express ideas in a way that is organic to them, guided by the specific themes provided by their facilitator.

Aside from reminiscence, it may also encourage your loved one to foster new interests and realise new things about themselves, especially for those who have not tried artmaking before. In fact, a local research report on the connection of reminiscence with artmaking and cultural heritage found that participants showcased high levels of enthusiasm, engagement, and the ability to learn new skills despite having no experience with artmaking.⁴

These benefits are also consistent with the principles of person-centred care, which aims to enhance the wellbeing of persons living with dementia by meeting their psychological needs.

How is it meaningful for caregivers?

While the merits of Reminiscence Arts for persons living with dementia are aplenty, caregivers also stand to benefit from it in various ways. Improving interpersonal relationships on a familial level between persons living with dementia and their caregivers is one of them. For instance, persons living with dementia are encouraged to share the stories and meanings behind their artwork with the people around them. This allows family caregivers to get to know their loved ones better because, often, these meanings are tied to past hobbies, interests, and significant experiences in their lives.

On a more practical note, Reminiscence Arts can be conducted by family caregivers in the comfort of their own home. These activities are approximately less than an hour long and are perfect for rainy day weather. Those interested to get an in-depth understanding of how to run these sessions are encouraged to learn more about the structure, skills and methods to further engage their loved ones at home.

Luckily, there are resources available that have been developed to aid formal and informal caregivers in conducting these sessions on their own. These toolkits often come with activities and instructions aimed at guiding caregivers through the process.

Tips for caregivers

1. Create a comfortable and conducive environment

Provide adequate lighting
Promote a sense of calm
Minimise background noise

2. Prepare materials beforehand to ensure that activities are smooth sailing

3. Conduct activities in an unhurried, loving way

Always allow time for response. The ways in which persons living with dementia communicate differ based on the stage of their dementia they are in. It is important that caregivers tailor the interaction to their specific needs in order to make the most of each conversation.
Avoid giving them too many options to reduce the likelihood of confusion or distress.

4. Emphasise the strengths of the person living with dementia

Focus on what your loved one can do and not on what they cannot do
It is also important to select themes and activities that are meaningful to your loved one. What resonates with one person may not with another.

5. Keep an eye on the person living with dementia

Look out for signs of fatigue or being overwhelmed. Check-in with your loved one every now and then.

6. Empower, not take over

If your loved one is struggling with a particular question or activity, ask them if they would like your help. Alternatively, you may wish to guide them on how to do it and have them follow suit.

Reminiscence Arts Resources

The following are some reminiscence art resources that caregivers will be able to use to engage with their loved ones at home.

JADe Digital Toolkits

Journey with Arts & Dementia (JADe) is a local initiative by Dementia Singapore and supported by the Chua Foundation. A set of digital toolkits were also developed as part of the JADe programme. These toolkits cover various themes such as old school games, cooking, heritage, lifestyle, and weddings. Each toolkit comes with guiding questions, pictures, activities, and instructions for caregivers to strike meaningful conversations with their loved ones. Click on the thumbnails to download guides

Craft Tutorial Videos

Dementia Singapore has also released a series of instructional video resources aimed at guiding caregivers and persons living with dementia in each craft activity. The items made in these videos include simplified versions of old-school games such as five stones, chapteh and kites. The videos are divided by difficulty level and offer a list of craft materials that may be readily available at home. Caregivers are advised to encourage their loved one to share their experiences while making these items, and ultimately bond and have fun together.

Level of Difficulty: Easy

Level of Difficulty: Medium

Level of Difficulty: Difficult

Training Courses

Reminiscence Arts for Dementia (Basic E-Learning)

Caregivers interested in Reminiscence Arts facilitation and would like to explore more about how to engage your loved ones in these sessions, can register for the free e-learning modules offered by Dementia Singapore and learn at your own pace.

Reminiscence Arts for Dementia

More advanced Reminiscence Arts facilitation offered by Dementia Singapore, to equip caregivers and public members with theoretical, and practical knowledge to design and implement small-group reminiscence art sessions for persons living with dementia.

Reminiscence Arts for Dementia
(Professional Caregivers)

Designed for Allied Health Professionals, Psychosocial staff and care staff who plan to design, prepare and conduct reminiscence based activity programmes for persons living with dementia. Training includes an assessment at the end of the course.

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Reminiscence in Dementia Care

Admin — Sat, 08 Oct 2022 10:59:52 +0000

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Reminiscence is a method in dementia care that focuses on facilitating recollection about past events and experiences with persons living with dementia. This recollection creates opportunities to improve the wellbeing of persons with dementia, and for family and caregivers to meaningfully connect with them.

Reminiscence focuses on the discussion of activities, experiences, and events from the past. It is often referred to as “reminiscence therapy”, which is an umbrella term for different approaches to engage people in reminiscence for therapeutic purposes.^1,2

It is often done with older persons, including those with dementia and depression, and nearing the end of life.¹

Reminiscence therapy is closely linked to Robert Butler’s (1963) work on the process of ‘Life Review’³. In this work, Butler states that the experience of reviewing one’s life is universal (experienced by everyone). It involves a person looking back upon their life, reflecting on past experiences, including unresolved issues.

Butler’s work greatly influenced the conversation about reminiscence in dementia care. With this work, the concept of life review was brought into the field of psychotherapy for older persons to address the integrity and adjustments of these persons. His work also influenced how reminiscence is seen: not as a psychological dysfunction, but as a process that has the potential to be constructive.³

Butler’s work aligns well conceptually with Erik Erikson’s theory on the stages of psychosocial development, which details eight key stages of development people experience through their lifespan. In the eighth and last stage, Erikson theorises that people, usually in their later lives, experience a crisis of ‘ego integrity versus despair’. A person aims to find meaning and acceptance of their lives while reviewing their lives during this psychosocial stage.^4,1

Though Butler’s ‘Life Review’ focuses on an individual’s review of their own lives, different approaches to reminiscence work that do not focus on the life review process have developed since then.

Aims of Reminiscence Therapy

The aim of a reminiscence activity varies with the profile of the individual or group participating (e.g. age, health conditions), and the type of reminiscence work done.

Facilitators of reminiscence activities can also tailor their activities according to the specific goals of the person it is being done with (e.g. a person living with dementia and/or their caregiver) and the personnel conducting the activity.

Potential aims include the enhancement of communication skills, to increase a sense of personal or narrative identity11, have an enjoyable social activity, improve mood and quality of life, stimulate memories. Reminiscence can also be done to make care more individualised,² which aligns well with the aims of person-centred care.

Caregiver-related aims include: relieving caregiver burden, improving caregiver mental health, an improvement in caregiver loneliness, and improving the relationship between person living with dementia and the caregiver.

It is possible, though not guaranteed, that the achievement of some outcomes has ripple effects on other outcomes as well. For example, a person living with dementia who is encouraged to perform skills that they frequently engaged in during their earlier years may experience an increase in self-esteem, which may improve their mood and behavioural outcomes.

Evidence for outcomes

At present, there is emerging evidence that reminiscence therapy has the potential to improve some outcomes for persons living with dementia, including quality of life, communication, cognition, and mood.^1,2

Components of Reminiscence Therapy

In Macleod and colleagues’ study² on what happens in reminiscence therapy, common components (things done or used during therapy) were identified from a selection of studies.

Frequently used components included:

Memory triggers: The use of materials such as audio or visual programmes, images, sentences, or memorabilia to prompt a person to recall memories
Themes: A focus on themes such as food, music, pop culture, or places, during the activity.
Life stages: An exploration of the participant or participants’ life stages.
Reality Orientation: Prompting participants to understand their present reality, including their physical surroundings and time.
Activities: Activities for participants to participate in during the reminiscence session.
Family-only sessions: Sessions involving family members.

The benefits of the above components were compared across five outcome domains (cognition, mood, behaviours, quality of life, caregiver-related outcomes, and communication). It was found that, across the studies surveyed:

Memory triggers, and to a lesser degree themes, were found not to be consistently beneficial
The component “life stages” was linked to benefits in mood, quality of life, and caregiver-related outcomes
The component “activities” was linked to benefits in the behaviour of the person living with dementia, and caregiver-related outcomes
Family-only sessions was a beneficial component of reminiscence work for caregiver-related outcomes

Who can facilitate reminiscence work?

Reminiscence therapy is currently facilitated by trained care personnel from a variety of professional backgrounds, including health and social service practitioners.²

Concerns about the use of Reminiscence

Though reminiscence has its benefits, it should also be facilitated with care.

Painful memories: Recall of past events may involve the recollection of traumatic or painful memories (e.g. wartime memories, memories from difficult personal events). It is important that care personnel review the life history of the person living with dementia to facilitate activities with sensitivity.

The difficulty of recalling memories: Due to the increasing difficulty of persons living with dementia to intentionally recall memories, they might feel discouraged when experiencing such difficulties during reminiscence activities.

It is important that questions facilitators ask are open-ended and exploratory, instead of close-ended and test-like. When questions are phrased this way, it is easier for participants to recall memories relevant to the conversation topic as the scope of discussion is much wider than with a close-ended question. With this lower barrier to participation in the conversation, participants may feel more encouraged to participate.

Handling life reviews with sensitivity: Reviewing one’s life comes with appraising the meaning of past seasons of life. This can be challenging, even when done in private.

When a life review is done collaboratively with loved ones or care personnel, a person must take the additional steps of articulating their thoughts to others, while trusting others that they can be vulnerable and honest about their private thoughts and feelings. It is important that care personnel be sensitive and gentle in handling such conversations.

Conclusion

Reminiscence is a useful tool in dementia care. It can increase the wellbeing of persons living with dementia and their family by providing a means of engagement, while also presenting a meaningful opportunity for persons to meet their need to evaluate their lives.

Reminiscence components can be incorporated into other activities as well. Read about reminiscence-based activities and reminiscence arts to find out more about how reminiscence may be incorporated and adapted into activities.

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Psychosocial Interventions Archives - DementiaHub.SG

Expressive Arts Therapy: An Introduction

In this Article

What Expressive Arts Therapy Is

Differentiate Expressive Arts Therapy from Expressive Arts Programmes

Benefits of Expressive Arts Therapy (EXAT)

Getting Started

Additional Tips

Conclusion

Author's Bio

Music Therapy – a Symptomatic Treatment of Dementia

Benefits of Music Therapy for Persons Living with Dementia

Supported Evidence of Music Therapy

Conclusion

Creating a Life Story for Persons with Dementia

In this Article

What is a Life Story?

Persons Living with Dementia and their Life Story

What is the Purpose of a Life Story Resource?

Making a Life Story Resource

What Does a Life Story Look Like?

How Do You Engage Persons Living with Dementia in Creating a Life Story Resource?

Conclusion

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Integrating Play into Dementia Treatment Plans

In this Article

Play as part of Non-Pharmacological Interventions in Dementia Care

Benefits of Play in Dementia Treatment

Types of Play Activities for Persons Living with Dementia

Sensory Stimulation Activities

Creative Expression through Arts and Crafts

Simple Games and Puzzles

Reminiscence and Storytelling Activities

Strategies for Implementing Play in Dementia Care Settings

Enhancing Engagement and Wellbeing with Dementia Toys

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ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR

MARY ANNE ROBERTO

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The Power of Self-advocates in Dementia

In this Article

What Does Advocacy Mean?

Why Should Persons Living with Dementia and Their Caregivers be Involved in Self-advocacy Efforts?

What Does Advocacy Look Like in Singapore?

Want to Become a Dementia Self-advocate?

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Cognitive Intervention Programme (CIP)

In this Article

Benefits of the Cognitive Intervention Programme (CIP)

Willie Chiang's Story

Participant considerations

How do I sign up for CIP?

CIP Service Providers

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Museum Activities for Persons Living with Dementia

National Gallery Singapore

1. Art With You

Source: National Gallery Singapore

Guided Group Visits

Self-guided Visits

2. Calm Room

Reminiscence Arts for Dementia
(Professional Caregivers)