South Mountain Memory Care, serving Emmaus, Allentown, and the Lehigh Valley area, is proud to offer a wide range of resident-focused daily activity programming to our residents. Each neighborhood offers activity space for group and one-on-one activities. Our program has been created and tailored to our resident population by our Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist to enrich all aspects of physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and spiritual functioning.
What is Therapeutic Recreation for dementia residents?
Therapeutic recreation involves the use of leisure activities to promote health, emotional well-being, and skills, while accommodating all ability levels. Therapeutic recreation strengthens interpersonal skills and relationships, improves physical strength, and promotes cognitive abilities. One of the highlights of our program is the use of arts-based and other creative approaches to dementia care.
What are the benefits of Therapeutic Recreation for dementia residents?
Studies have shown that arts-based and creative approaches to dementia care can present an alternative to antipsychotic medications in some cases. The implementation of creative therapy has resulted in improvements in creative self-expression, communication, pleasure, enjoyment, and general engagement among people with dementia.
Arts and crafts can be ways in which dementia patients and victims of trauma can express themselves when verbal communication is difficult. One researcher stated, “Creative activity has been shown to reduce depression and isolation, offering the power of choice and decisions. Towards the end of life, art and creativity offer a path of opening up the windows to people’s emotional interiors.”
The Allentown Art Museum features Art Can, a free monthly program that offers accessible art experiences for adults with Alzheimer’s and dementia, and for their caregivers. In a private setting, Museum educators and docents lead a guided conversation with participants specifically designed to engage this audience. After the group conversation, participants are invited to explore the galleries individually and continue the dialogue with a trained volunteer. Here is a PBS39 video report on a visit to Art Can featuring South Mountain Memory Care residents: wlvt.org/blogs/lehigh/art-can-for-adults-with-memory-loss/
The power of creativity is one trait that sets humans apart from animals. While the average observer may view fingerpaints and papier mâché as quaint or even childish, for dementia residents, they and other arts and crafts media are a world of expression and cognitive exercise.
Whatever the cause or level of your or your loved one’s memory issues, South Mountain Memory Care, with our unique culture, “small house” model, and abundance of certified caregivers, offers you the peace of mind of knowing your loved one will be cared for as if they were our family—which they are!
South Mountain Memory Care is committed to providing individualized, compassionate care to support our residents in achieving a well-balanced lifestyle. We strive to allow our residents to remain independent while emphasizing safety. Our focus is to enrich their life—mind, body, and spirit—by bringing new initiatives into their day-to-day regimen while maintaining the activities they find comfort in. South Mountain Memory Care offers the peace of mind you deserve. When it comes to those you care so deeply about, we understand because we care, too.