Arts for people with dementia

Project for people living at home

People living at home with dementia in Forth Valley are the focus of a new arts project.

Artlink Central’s Creative Prescription is a participatory arts programme for people with the diagnosis who are still living at home, working through visual art, music and interactive reminiscence activities to develop lively, social environments. The programme is running in Stirling and Falkirk.

The free, referral service delivers activities that support social interaction, self-expression, creativity, mental health and wellbeing delivered in community settings and welcomes the involvement of participant’s families and carers.

The weekly service will start in April, running through to September this year.

The Stirling service will be based in the Cowane Centre, Cowane Street, Stirling FK9 1HQ on Tuesdays from 10am until noon starting April 4. The Falkirk service will be based in Camelon Education Centre, Abercrombie Street, Falkirk FK1 4HA on Mondays and Thursdays from 10am until noon from April 6.

Artlink Central’s Sarah Pearson said: “Artlink Central has worked creatively in NHS Forth Valley settings with people with a diagnosis of dementia for 20 years. We are delighted to be able to bring our practice out into the community.

“This service has developed from a successful community pilot programme, ‘The Art of Conversation,’ which ran last year in Stirling, led by an experienced team of Artlink Central artist practitioners - Claire Docherty, Elaine Kordys and Frances Douglas - who are leading Creative Prescription this year.”

For more information on the service and a referral form contact Sarah on 01786 450971 or email: sarah@artlinkcentral.org.

This service developed from a successful pilot programme