Alzheimer Larissa Greece (ΕΕΝΑΛ) has been working for many years with people with mild cognitive impairment or dementia, encouraging them to maintain and exercise their mental skills through regular meetings. Art has been always a meaningful tool during sessions, either as a creative activity or as a means of communication, enabling trips down memory lane. On the other hand, promoting the maintenance of brain health to healthy people is always challenging, especially as people do not share the same interests, or have already chosen to follow a single hobby. A new plan was therefore implemented, using art as a medium and advertised to the general public, but also welcoming those with dementia. The pilot programme began at the start of 2019, under the direction of Dr Artemissia-Phoebe Nifli, focusing on verbal skills and socialising. So far, two groups of diverse ages and backgrounds completed the sessions, and provided evaluations about meeting personal objectives for cognitive enhancement, concentration or motivation.
Another aspect of this work is to encourage individuals to embrace their role as facilitators. There was therefore a second “field” challenge. In continuance of the fruitful collaboration with Maria Zisopoulou and the School of Art of the Municipal Gallery of Larissa- G.I. Katsigras Museum, Alzheimer Larissa invited the participants to join the active exhibition INTERCONTACT (ΔΙΕΠΑΦΗ). The visit was structured in accordance with the main theme of the exhibition, and the approach applied during the workshops. First, the artists themselves provided an interactive tour, during which they occasionally personified each other, and addressed questions, until the final disclosure of their real identity. Secondly, they discussed specific forms and colours and how Maria Zisopoulou’s black and white curves, and Dimitra Oikonomou’s colourful polygons contributed to the character of the exhibition. Finally, the artists supervised the integration of these elements in a live drawing performance, while participants moved about and networked. A third group is expected to join ΕΕΝΑΛ’s efforts during the upcoming World Alzheimer’s Month (September). Alzheimer Larissa is looking forward to their feedback.