Budding artists in Stockport and the High Peak are being asked to send in designs for a new art project to support people living with dementia.
A competition has been launched calling for pictures for a new therapeutic colouring book which will help to provide a calming activity to help soothe them and put them at ease.
The call comes from Ruth Terry, Matron for Dementia Care for Stockport NHS Foundation Trust. Ruth provides support for patients living with dementia both at Stepping Hill Hospital and those accessing local community NHS services in Stockport.
People living with dementia can be disorientated, anxious and scared, and being in an unfamiliar environment such as a hospital this can heighten these feelings. They can also feel helpless, bored and frustrated.
For many, art can play an important role in countering these feelings. Having an activity to do can really help someone living with dementia feel useful, engaged, safe and have a purpose. The new art colouring book can play an important in this process.
The challenge is this: to draw an A4 size picture with clear black outlines that a person living with dementia could use to colour in. The drawings should be clear and not too detailed. The artwork can be either a picture of a scene or a pattern.
The best drawings will be added into the new art book which will be available to patients .The art book will be a free resource for people living with dementia receiving care in both the hospital and the community.
There’s a prize for some of the best entries too: a gift voucher for the three best drawings is up for grabs, as well as all the winning drawings being part of the new book. Providing permission is granted, each artist will be named in the book.
Ruth Terry, Matron for Dementia Care said “Being in hospital can be a scary and disorienting experience for someone living with dementia. While everyone with dementia is different, for many, art therapy can be really a huge assistance through a traumatic time. When someone feels calmer and safe, they are not only likely to be happier and less agitated, they are more likely to eat and drink better, which can also help reduce the risk of falls. It can also help them to engage with other activities such as physiotherapy assessments and treatment as well. We think the new book will be a real help with that.”
To take part, please either email your drawings and contact form to ruth.terry@stockport.nhs.uk or post to Ruth Terry, Birch House, Stepping Hill Hospital, Poplar Grove, Stockport, SK2 7JE by the closing date of 17th January 2022. Winners will be announced on 28th January 2022 .Each drawing requires a contact form to be completed and attached – without a contact form the drawing will not be able to enter into the competition.
Ruth adds “We’re looking for drawings from everyone who wants to help, both from own colleagues and people and families in the community, and from experienced artists to people who might be trying out drawings of this kind for the first time. Everyone’s support will be really appreciated.”
For the contact form, and further information including examples of designs please visit the link below. Further enquiries are welcome and can be sent to Ruth at ruth.terry@stockport.nhs.uk
Dementia Friendly art book competition information and entry form