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Monthly Archives: June 2019

Be Creative with Tie Dyeing

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So often we wrack our brains to bring out the creative side of our loved ones who have dementia. You’ll want to do something that is relatively quick and easy.  Yet you’ll want the end-product to look fantastic.  Have I got a project for you…tie dyeing.

A few weeks ago, an artist friend of mine, Sue Reiter, talked about holding classes for tie dyeing.  I purchased a 100% cotton sweat shirt and went to her home where she holds these classes.  I’m not very artistic but was willing to try. 

First you decide upon the colors you’d like on your shirt.  I chose blue and green.  Then you wrap your white cotton shirt in rubber bands as directed by Sue.  You put on gloves and dip various parts of your shirt in the vats of dye of your choice. When you’ve finished you put the shirt in a plastic bag and take it home. After 24 hours you take the shirt out of the bag, take off the rubber bands and put the shirt in the washer (alone without any other clothes) and then dryer.  Wait another day and re-wash the shirt, put it in the dryer, and you’re done.  Under Sue’s directions, the shirts look great.  You and your loved ones can’t make a mistake.  The project is a success no matter what colors you use.  I wear mine often.

What I like about the project is that the messy part is done at Sue’s home.  They are set up for it.  You take it home, follow her directions for completion and you have a product you and your loved one can wear with pride. 

The participants of Memory Café will be doing this project as a group on March 4th.  You and your loved one with dementia are welcome to join us.

Memory Café is a place where family caregivers and their loved ones with beginning to intermediate stages of dementia can come together to learn, laugh, cry and meet others in a similar circumstance.  On March 4th we’ll meet at 1:00 PM at St. Mark United Methodist Church on Quincy Road in the parking lot opposite the church.  We’ll then ride together over to Sue Reiter’s home.  For more information on this trip and also coming activities for Memory Cafe call Bonnie at 864-916-9204.

Is Your Loved One a Budding “Grandma Moses”?

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Your loved one may be a budding “Grandma Moses”.  Anna Mary Robertson (Moses), also known as “Grandma Moses,” began art in her late seventies.  She was completely self-taught.  Anna lost her husband, Thomas Moses and suffered a great loss. She sought ways to keep busy and overcome her grief.  Art was the answer for her.

It may also be the answer for patients with Alzheimer’s disease.  Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that affects the brain in a predictable way.  It begins in the hippocampus, the area of the brain responsible for creating memories from experiences.  From there it moves to the front of the brain where language is processed and executive functions like decision making are formulated.  Next, it moves to the logic center where problem solving and planning are controlled.  Emotions and creativity remain viable for a much longer time.

Studies have shown that art is a wonderful therapy for patients with any type of dementia. “We would never have discovered my mother’s talent if not for an art program.   Mom’s creativity had profound, positive effects on her, and as a result, our family.” 

To help introduce your loved one to the arts, you might want to come to Memory Café where the two of you can enjoy trips and activities for free.   Memory Café is going to Glazing on Main Street located in Clemson.  There we will choose a piece of pottery and paint it.  Glazing on Main Street will then put your masterpiece in a kiln, bake it and turn it into a professional piece of art that you may keep forever.

Memory Café is a place where family caregivers and their loved ones with beginning to intermediate stages of dementia can come together to learn, laugh, cry and meet others in a similar circumstance.     Some people with dementia lose their ability to relate to people.  Memory Cafe has been found to deepen connections with other people.  The activities become the topic of conversation, which increases their self-worth.  The bottom line is it helps patients with dementia live with dignity, purpose and self-esteem.

So, is your loved one a budding “Grandma Moses” just waiting for the opportunity to express his or her creativity?  Come join us on July 1st to find out.