Description: Overflowing with easy-to-apply creative ideas, this book is for those working in residential care, day care, and at home who seek creative solutions to improving the well-being of people living with dementia. It is suitable for those with limited experience and for more experienced practitioners..
Brief description: Sarah Zoutewelle-Morris (1949-2019) was born in Dublin, Ireland. Her family moved to the U.S. when she was a child, where she started studying with Abe Weiner, a well known American painter, when she was 10 years old. She received a degree in fine arts/illustration at Syracuse University New York, and a BFA Graphic design/ Calligraphy at Carnegie-Mellon University PA, where she studied with master calligrapher Arnold Bank and became his assistant. She taught calligraphy, art and design at CMU and the Ivy School of Professional Art & Crafts, lectured, exhibited, did commissions and appeared in numerous articles in various calligraphy journals. In 1977 she moved to Scotland, to the Findhorn Foundation, where she worked in the design department, designing and illustrating a whole range of publications. She also ran an art gallery there for several years and gave art workshops regularly. In 1984 she moved with her Dutch husband to the Netherlands, where she continued teaching courses in art and calligraphy, working in graphic design and calligraphy, exhibiting her art work, writing articles for various magazines, and illustrating books. Her work was used by several of the big design firms in the North of Holland. She also started to decorate period instruments for various harpsichord builders. In the mid-nineties she started to get more interested in the social side of art and creativity and joined HBG, an organization of artists that developed and executed celebratory art and creativity projects in hospitals, inspired by Patch Adams, the American clown/doctor. She was active for 15 years as a creativity trainer and an art/healthcare worker - an artist who uses her creative skills within a health-care setting to support patients and to help staff develop creative approaches to their work. She also worked as a creative consultant in a home for people with dementia for several years, which resulted in her first book, 100 Ideas for a Creative Approach to Activities in Dementia Care, which was selected by the British library association for their recommended reading list, and translated into German and Welsh. Both her second book, A Generous Spirit: Exploring New Directions for the Arts, and her third book, Pigments of Imagination, were published posthumously in 2020.
Review Quotes:
"At last a book for those hungry for creative activity ideas for people living with dementia and particularly those with advanced dementia! It is practical, inspiring and has a good mix of simple everyday things to do as well as more structured arts-based activities." -Sylvie Silver and Sally Knocker, National Association of Providers of Activities for Older People
"I feel this book should be essential reading for all those involved in dementia care. This is not only because Sarah inspires so much confidence in the reader to try new ideas, but also because she positively encourages a creative approach to communication and activity design. The book is well thought out and well planned with delightful illustrations, and full of practical ideas which will meet the needs of people in various stages of dementia. A long-awaited book - definitely to be recommended." -Barbara Hughes, Activities Organiser, Chalfont Lodge, Buckinghamshire (Barchester Healthcare)
"Sarah Zoutewelle-Morris's book is a must-have for anyone interested in successfully entering the world of individuals with memory loss. Whatever you are trying to do or bring will be supported and greatly enhanced by her approaches. This book is not just for Recreational and Activity staff and Artists of all types, but also guidance for Clergy, Therapists, Medical and Care staff, Volunteers and family members. Many activity books jump quickly to what to "DO" with people, covering "how to be" as somewhat of an afterthought. Sarah spends solid time on this topic. She allows the reader to explore the spaces and opportunities of how to "BE" with someone with dementia, what this means and how impactful it is to everyone involved.
The author patiently nurtures creativity, spontaneity and letting go of perfection while focusing on staying Present, and spends time on what is meaningful and unique about each person with or without an illness, and how to find ways to draw on these important elements in a person's life. Sarah understands the challenging care situations with a small group representing very different skills and stages, or feeling lost with a particular stage of this disease. She provides wonderful tips to the reader about all the stages, including end-of-life, and guidance regarding feeling lost.
This book provides many practical points for this work with great details and resources. Sarah is also broad and inspiring, bringing a full depth of understanding to all the nuances, joys and heartwarming moments. There are many subtle yet important things someone new to this field must learn; she conveys all these insights with ease. Sarah Zoutewelle-Morris presents such a humane, delightful and kind approach with great ideas and resources for activities and work with individuals with memory loss. Wherever I consult, this book will be on the top of the recommendation list."
-Megan Carnarius, Memory Care Consulting, author of A Deeper Perspective on Alzheimer's and Other Dementias