TD story of woman with Dementia
In my third week of TD with the Parkinsons and Caregivers "Summer Open Studio" another amazing unfolding occurred.
While facilitating in this group it came to my attention that a woman who came with her Parkinsonian husband had Dementia. Although she appeared to be totally aware of her surroundings and was very social, she kept asking what she was supposed to be doing with the TD. After repeating to her many times I realized that she was not retaining what I was saying or demonstrating to her.
The first week she attended she was able to do TD and put out many abstract and somewhat blurry drawings which she seemed to enjoy. During the second week, after explaining and demonstrating it to her again like the first time, an amazing thing happend.
Using a dark green color by choice, she began to do big movements with both hands and created a large beautiful flowing tree.
The second drawing was a full figured self portrait of her and her husband done very detailed.
The third drawing was the same type but this time of her two children and they were dressed very well.
When I asked her about the drawings she said that they just came out and that she had not planned them and "really did not know what she was doing".
When asked a title, she called them her "Family Tree"
Another caregiver asked her if she had done drawing before and she answered, "No, never", but I like to make my clothes and do things around the house".
I am still blown away by witnessing this and it is my first experience with an individual with dementia. If you had asked me the week before if I thought these drawings could come from her I would have said no. I am continuously amazed and humbled by these experiences. Has anyone witnessed anything like this before? Victoria
While facilitating in this group it came to my attention that a woman who came with her Parkinsonian husband had Dementia. Although she appeared to be totally aware of her surroundings and was very social, she kept asking what she was supposed to be doing with the TD. After repeating to her many times I realized that she was not retaining what I was saying or demonstrating to her.
The first week she attended she was able to do TD and put out many abstract and somewhat blurry drawings which she seemed to enjoy. During the second week, after explaining and demonstrating it to her again like the first time, an amazing thing happend.
Using a dark green color by choice, she began to do big movements with both hands and created a large beautiful flowing tree.
The second drawing was a full figured self portrait of her and her husband done very detailed.
The third drawing was the same type but this time of her two children and they were dressed very well.
When I asked her about the drawings she said that they just came out and that she had not planned them and "really did not know what she was doing".
When asked a title, she called them her "Family Tree"
Another caregiver asked her if she had done drawing before and she answered, "No, never", but I like to make my clothes and do things around the house".
I am still blown away by witnessing this and it is my first experience with an individual with dementia. If you had asked me the week before if I thought these drawings could come from her I would have said no. I am continuously amazed and humbled by these experiences. Has anyone witnessed anything like this before? Victoria
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Deborah Koff-Chapin on -
Victoria, This IS a very powerful story. Someday i hope some graduate students will begin to do research with Touch Drawing. have you taken photographs of this wooooman's drawings? If you do, you need to get her pemission. i don't know how this works with people with dementia. But my job is at least to collect 'anecdotal evidence' that can begin to develop interest in further study. Please see what you can do to fill out this report. And watch what happans in the future. A Td colleague ( katrina Plato, who was a co-chair of the IEATA conf0 and I are looking at writing an article and then proposing a presentation for the Art Therapy Association...this story could be good for that, especially with a bit more follow through. blessings and thanks - Deborah
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