We are excited to announce a new volunteer, arts-based, program at St. Michael’s Long Term Care Center. Connecting by Creating is an AHS Community-based Innovations for Dementia Care grant recipient program. We are seeking volunteers ages 14+ to come to our facility once a week for six weeks, partnering with residents living with dementia to assist them in abstract art and/or improvisation theatre experiences. Please consider volunteering to help our residents experience the creative freedom and self-expression that abstract art and/or improvisation theatre can provide.

Connecting by Creating is a new, inter-generational volunteer program at St. Michael’s Long Term Care Center in North Edmonton. With a focus on arts-based programming, we aim to improve the well-being of residents living with dementia through autonomy and creative self-expression, while encouraging inter-generational bonds with volunteers, and increasing community understanding and awareness of dementia.

Connecting by Creating includes two programs – St. Michael’s Art Club, and St. Michael’s Theatre. Volunteers will spend 1-2 hours each week for six weeks in a creative, failure-free setting, assisting a resident living with dementia to express themselves creatively through abstract art or improvisation theatre acting and play. (CLICK HERE for a recent article about the program)

Art sessions will use Opening Minds Through Art (OMA) session techniques from the course based out of the Miami University Scripps Gerontology Centre. Volunteers will work with a resident artist to create a beautiful abstract art piece that encourages freedom of artistic choice and creative self-expression. (CLICK HERE for more information on the OMA program)

Improvisation theatre sessions will use Village improv for Alzheimer’s techniques from Inside Out Theatre – a Deaf and disability theatre company based in Calgary, Alberta. Volunteers will spend time each week brightening residents days with improvisation theatre experiences. (CLICK HERE for more information on the Village Improv for Alzheimer’s program)

Anyone aged 14+ can apply to volunteer. We are currently recruiting for programs beginning in January and ongoing from there. The Theatre Club will meet Saturday’s at 1:30pm and the Art Club will meet Saturday’s at 10:00am. If you’re interested in volunteering but these days/times don’t work for you – please still reach out! This is a new and evolving program, so knowing your availability will help us to make it even more successful!

For more information or to apply to be a volunteer, please contact Meagan Chapman at mchapman@smhg.ca or 780-473-5621 ext. 3223 (office hours Tuesday and Friday 8-4:15)

We can’t wait to meet you!