Regis Frankston opens up a new world of self-expression for residents

Key points:

• Evidence has shown that art therapy is well-suited to provide support for older people in residential aged care and people living with dementia

• Art therapy has been shown to improve mood, provide cognitive stimulation and facilitate creative expression, according to the National Ageing Research Institute

• Located in a quiet residential precinct of Frankston and within close proximity to the shops, Regis Frankston is ideally positioned to offer an enjoyable bayside lifestyle

Art therapy has become increasingly popular within aged care to provide residents with a method to share how they are feeling in a safe and welcoming environment.

Regis Frankston has incorporated art therapy regularly into its lifestyle program over the past year and has witnessed the incredible benefits it has for its residents. Alongside the Lifestyle team’s craft group, Sandy, a certified art therapist who is a familiar face at the home as its counsellor, has been running art therapy sessions since the beginning of the year.

Since then, there has been constant attendance for all arts and crafts activities which are immensely popular creative groups within the home.

By creating a warm, quiet and inviting environment, each session with Sandy has led to an outpouring of emotions, reminiscing and life stories being shared. Residents have said that art therapy takes their minds to different places where conversations and laughter are in abundance.

Joy [pictured above], a resident at the Regis Frankston home, said she felt incredibly proud when working on her craft projects.

“Each project reminds me that I can continue to express my thoughts and imagination and I am still able to accomplish projects,” Joy said.

Marjorie, another resident, said that the artistic activities had helped her to open up new ways to socialise and bond with others at Regis Frankston.

“I love sitting with a group of people chatting and sharing my life experiences while working on some art. The day goes so fast,” Marjorie said.

“Our arts and crafts groups support each other. There is a lot of laughing, singing and cheer for each other,” Joan [pictured above] said.

Art therapy programs foster meaningful friendships among individuals who share a common ground in creativity and life experiences. Regis Frankston is proud to nurture imagination and promote shared personal experiences within its community, as it is another outlet that allows residents to show how they feel without necessarily using words.

Art therapy can help residents to achieve self-expression in a safe and welcoming environment and bolster good mental health outcomes.

It is also a rewarding activity, allowing residents to feel a sense of accomplishment and pride in their work; it’s a safe space to try something new.

Art therapy has been introduced in the lifestyle calendar across many Regis homes and has already had positive effects on residents.

To find out more about Regis Frankston and the inventive efforts of its residents, check out the Regis website for further information.

When was the last time that you let your creative streak run wild and unleashed your inner artist? Let the team at Talking Aged Care know more and subscribe to the newsletter for more uplifting stories!