Camera's, Press, Action as Finnish citizens witness the largest grant to date, studying the cognitive effects of the TTAP Method over a 3 year period.

Linda Levine Madori and Amanda Alders are seen here with the Executive Director of the Hameenalinna Alzheimer's Project!


The staff of the Alzheimer's Association were also present to engage the public in the information about the grant that will have a potentially powerful impact in this region in Finland regarding the government's monitary support in finding new and more efficient ways in which to keep older individuals more independent, living longer in their homes through enhanced programs, such as the TTAP Method, to stimulate the brain and the lives of indivdiuals suffering from Alzheimer's Disease.


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Levine and Alders, seen above, set up a video and audio display of how the TTAP Method is designed to enhance interactions through person cented interests, Dr. Levine gives personal examples to the audience.



Press from the Finnish News Paper were present and covered the opening ceremony, a posting of the article will be shortcoming over the next week.

600,000.00 Euros received to study TTAP Method for 3 years!

May 28th, 2009 the Alzheimer's Association in Hameenlinna Titled:
KANTA-HAMEN MUISTIYHDISTYS
Announced in a public presentation today that the Finnish goverment has funded 600,000.00 euros to study the TTAP Method over a three year period in a two prong research study. The first study research will target 5 Skilled Nursing Facilites in the Hameenlinna region, staff will be trained through video and educational lectures currently being created by Dr. Levine Madori. and filmed by her graduate student Amanda Alders.

Residents diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease will be given the TTAP Method and followed closely with pre and post testing. The second phase of the study will look at those individuals' diagnosed with Mild Alzheimer's disease who are still living in their homes. Caregivers will be given manuals developed by Dr. Levine Madori specifically written and designed based on the TTAP Method but targeted to enhance verbalization and person centered activites to hopefully enhance wellness and keep the individuals living in their homes longer, thus saving billions of healthcare costs. Below is a photo of Pertti Kalanti, the Executive Director of the Kanta-Hameen Muistiyhdistyken Valuprojekti.

In this Photo below, The Executive Director presented at HAMK University last Friday, inviting professionals studing the Certificate Course on the TTAP method to participate in the largest study to date correlating therapeutic structured activities to those diagnosed with Mild and Moderate Alzheimer's disease.

Dr. Levine Madori and Pertti Kalanti are in front of the Hameenlinna Library where some 50 individuals from Social Services, Healthcare agencies, Therapists, and Public Healthcare Administrators come together to here about the TTAP Method through a lecture and video presentation.

Finland in the Spring

Finland is so far north on the globe, it borders Lapland, where Santa lives. It also has only a few hours of darkness. The photos below represent the darkest it gets at about 2pm at night, here the sun rests behind the clouds.

This last image of the sky at dawn which is at about 3 pm, there is only 3-4 hours of darkness at this time of year.

In Late May, the earth here is now just warming up and feels like spring, the sun is warm on your face, flowers are in bloom, the birds are singing and there are thousands of paths to walk. Come join me in a photo gallery of scenes and sights of Finland as I take a day to explore nature.

Lake Rantasipi-Aulanko

Finland is a magical wonderland, the air is so fresh you can feel your lungs singing. The grass is like emeralds below your feet and the sky is like diving into a tube of azure oil paint!

HERE IS A SPECIAL PLACE FOR ALL OF YOU FOLLOWING THIS BLOG, COME SIT, RELAX AND ENJOY FINLAND IN YOUR MINDS EYE!

St. Thomas Aquinas Alumni departs Finland and heads back to U.S.!

Colleen Ryan, a graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas College, and a therapist at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, has spent the last 2 weeks in Finland studing at the International Summer School. Colleen brought her expertise as a Certified Recreation Therapist to all the courses she completed. She is the first U.S. student to recieved a Certificate of Completion of the TTAP Method, a 25 hour certificate course given through both the continuing education program as well as the Arts and Wellness Program at HAMK University of Applied Sciences. The Certificate Course is also being given at SEAMK University in Seinjoki. Below is a photo of the last day of the course and Colleen receiving her certificate.

In late 2009/ early 2010, the Certificate Course on the TTAP Method will be available to Therapists through multiple Universities across the United States. Please go to http://www.levinemadoriphd.com/ for updates and information after September 15, 2009.

Colleen and I shared many meals together after long days in the classroom. Colleen you might be back in New Jersey, but don't forget the laughs, the great wine and good food we had and know I treasure the time we spent on this incredable journey. I know through international studies you learned so much about traveling, life and most of all who you are! I am very greatful to be witness to my student become my peer and know we have a lifetime to make mountains of memories together.

COLLEEN -SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER!!! Linda

The Filming and Documentation of the Fulbright Travels

Students at HAMK University are learning how the TTAP Method(c) affects the brain in a very direct way. By experiencing each of the nine steps through experientials, the students learn first hand what it means to give and receive therapeutic stimulation and person centered programming. Charts and graphs make learning about TTAP Method(c) steps, brain region, and learning styles easy.

Every day of in class learning is complemented with educational filming. Footage is obtained daily to be edited into a five part documentary that will facilitate future teaching of the TTAP Method(c) around the world! Amanda Alders has been working on TTAP Method(c) videos for close to two years now and is utilizing her expertise in the area of filming and documentaries in order to create a video training series on the TTAP Method(c).

Saturday May 16th, HAMK University International Summer School officially begins!

This year's theme of PRESENCE, is a reminder for all of us to focus on being present in our daily moments, present in our professional commitments, while also being present with others who come into our lives.

Its a beautiful, cool morning as 200 international students from across the globe fill the HAMK University Auditorium to officially open the 5th year of its Applied Sciences International Summer School Program. Students studing Creative Arts Therapies, Clinical Nursing, Social Sciences, Social Work, and many other academic pursuits will live on campus for the next two weeks, attending classes, visiting Finnish healthcare facilities and spending time meeting and making lifelong new friends. Classes start early at 8:30 am and finish daily at 5pm. Over 15 countries are represented here between the faculty and the students studing including, England, Russia, Asia, Estonia, Norway, Sweden, Canada, the U.S. and many others. Here are some images captured in the moment.

Below are images taken from the lecture I gave at the opening of the International Summer School titled , THE BRAIN AND THE POWER OF ACTIVITES.
Students are a pleasure to teach, they are eager to learn, interested in new concepts while sharing in the excitement of the international experience.

International Faculty/Lecturers from 12 Countries Meet and Greet

Thursday evening at HAMK University all the International School Faculty and lecturers met for the first time, to share and discuss all the creative arts coursework that will be provided over the next two weeks. During my first visit in 2006, the international school had approximetly 9 Professors and 25 students. This year there are over 25 Professors/lecturers and well over 200 students from across the globe!

Please enjoy the photos's of the occasion. We took the advice:

Eat, Drink and be Merry to heart!!!!

Thursday May 14th- Discussion Board Created

There is now an open discussion board for those researching and applying the TTAP Method(c) in practice. If you have attended a TTAP Method(c) training session or have attended a roundtable discussion, a login account has been created for you and login information will be e-mailed to you within the week. 

Go to: DISCUSSION BOARD

Ask questions, share ideas, and inform others of your exciting work!!

We look forward to chatting with you!!

HAMK University- TTAP Certificate Course for Professionals

HAMK UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES, HAMEENLINNA, FINLAND

This week starts the four day certificate course on the TTAP Method for working professionals in the fields of gerontology, specifically Art Therapists, Recreation Therapists, Nurses, Administrators and health care providers. I have two students with me, Collen Ryan, a Recreation Therapist who graduated St. Thomas Aquinas College in 2008 and has been utilizing the TTAP Method at Westchester Valhalla Medical Center as well as Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. Colleen presenting a case study in which she sucessfully conducted the TTAP Method with individuals diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorders.

Amanda Alders, an Art Therapist who has just graduated from Nazareth College with a Masters in Art Therapy. Amanda has just recieved a full scholarship toward a Ph.D. program at the University of Florida. Amanda conducted the first study on the TTAP Method in the Spanish speaking population for her thesis in her masters degree and plans to continue studing the TTAP Method for her Ph.D.

The participants stated experientials with sharing memories about berries which were handed out to each participant. This use of objects enhances detailed levels of communication while allowing each individual to learn an enormous amount of detailed information in a short span of time. Below are images of these conversations.

Below are artworks of the participants, after expereincing a guided imagery.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS XOXO

Dear Lorin, Lea, Casey and Melanie, Lee, Snoopsie and Tiger,

I want you all to know how very much I love being Mom in all your lives. You love, support, and emails mean more than you know! Love now and forever, Mom

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL MOTHERS AROUND THE WORLD!

Traveling to Hamenlinna..Saturday, May 9,2009

Today I was picked up in Helsinki by a graduate student from HAMK University. Loaded the 2 bags of luggage into the care and headed back up north about one hour, to Hamelinna, the castle on the lake. Before arriving we did a grocery stop at a large store. As you can see the carts look the same , however you need a grocery "key" to unlock the carts , this is to make sure you lock the cart back up when leaving. This country is one in which you do things for yourself and almost every store is self sevice. That being said, I was extremely surprised a the honor system in the grocery store. Nothing is priced and the customer must identify the item by a number, then proceed to get a sticker for that object, if you forget you are sent back and loose your position in the line to pay. Heres a short video.

SOMETIMES THE WORLD DOES FEEL UPSIDE DOWN!

Seeing the sites of Helsinki

SPRINGTIME IN HELSINKI

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Swedish outdoor fair..

Today I was interviewed by the channel 2 News here in Helsinki, I will be part of a feature on healthcare issues and who the TTAP Method can effect Alzheimer's disease later this summer. Afterwards I decided to take a sightseeing bus around the city and you will see here all the images of the day. Including the market places, a swedish fair, the statues, flowers and people.



There was one shop that had the most beautiful colors in the window, I had to go in . I found two sisters who own the shop and asked if I could take some pictures of the colorful cups, bowls , dishes and spoons. We got to talking and I promised them that I would mention the shop so for those of you living in Finland and following this blog you can find these housewares at

MALOU, http://www.malou.fi/ look for the most wonderful colors to add to your kitchen! Thanks ladies.

As almost everything is so different here at the top of the world, some things are just like home the Rag Papers!

Helsinki Alzheimer's Association Conference, May 7th, 2009

Today I spoke for 3 hours to a room full of hundreds of healthcare providers, therapists, and administrators on the research currently being done on the TTAP Methodc in the US, Australia, Finland and New Zealand. The languagew may be very different but the problems and concerns of those dealing with the disease of Alzheimer's is the same around the world. Above you will notice the translator who assisted me immensely in her ability to translate more complicated information to the audience, a big thank-you! I did find out today that when I inicially sent the email about this blog, it has been forwarded to hundreds of people affiliated with the Alzheimer's Associations in Australia and Finland, to all of you a big thanks for your support of my work and please keep watching.

In the photo above, the participants were given a brief guided imagery, and then shared the people and places they saw in the "minds eye". There was alot of conversation about the establishment of a certificate course which will be promoted next year by the Finnish Alzheimer's Association for updated information please go to www.levinemadoriphd.com. Again, thank you for all your support, time and dedication to helping those with Alzheimer's Disease. A special thanks to Sirpa and Terhi who assisted me in the travel arrangements, helped me with lunch, taxis and getting me from the US to Finland three years in a row!