Listen to a Podcast Interview with Dr. Levine-Madori

Click Here to listen to a Podcast interview with Dr. Levine-Madori over the TTAP Method©

"Art Therapist Melissa Solorzano speaks with Dr. Linda Levine Madori. With a quarter-century of experience in the field of gerontology, Dr. Levine Madori has explored the relationship of arts and aging. The Certified Recreation Therapist and Board Certified Art Therapist is the author of a new, breakthrough book, Therapeutic Thematic Arts Programming for Older Adults.She has helped, those suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s, having designed innovative creative arts programs and worked with the elderly, skilled nurses, caregivers, and residents of assisted living and senior housing."

(Description taken directly from the Creative Therapy Sessions website developed by Melissa Solorzano)

Visit the website, under publications to read about the 7 efficacy research studies conducted over the last two years.

A special thanks for Melissa Solorzano for spearheading podcasts for Art Therapists!

International Research Meeting on the TTAP Method outcomes in 8 NEWLY released studies today, October 29th, 2010

At HAMK University 12 Professionals in Healthcare researching the TTAP Method included Faculty from HAMK University, University of Tampere and University of Seinajoki shared their research using the TTAP Method over the past 6 months with those individuals with all stages of Alzheimer's Disease.

The reported research findings on the case studies presented and filmed today include: *Increased Socialization
*Increased feelings of self worth and a reason to live
*Increased sharing of positive emotional memories
*Increase in group support after the program was finished
*Increased time spent in programming.

A general feeling from the professionals that the TTAP Method enhances both socialization and cognition, in that the action process model aides in the "going within" through the meditation and then outwardly verbalizing these powerful memories within a supportive group process. Healthcare Professionals researching the TTAP Method included Faculty from HAMK University, University of Tampere and University of Seinajoki and a general feeling from the professionals that the TTAP Method enhances both socialization and cognition, in that the action process model aides in the "going within" through the meditation and then outwardly verbalizing these powerful memories within a supportive group process.

Benefits to the Therapists and educators was documented and discussed included the following
• TTAP Method aides in giving structure to the action of the Therapist, more confident about planning the program.
• TTAP Method was found easy to implement ad most researchers have been providing programming for an average of 15 years, through their own expertise they reflected that the method enriched the programming results.
* TTAP Method enhanced the quality of lives of the individuals living with Alzheimer's disease.
• TTAP Method was powerful in connecting the activities with meaning, this brought much more reminiscing up during programming.
• Nursing and other interdisciplinary staffs were shocked to see programming go for upwards of 2 hours.

The TTAP Method on the News, WPIX channel 11

There are over 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer's Disease, a condition that destroys brain cells causing memory loss. For patients and for their families the disease also destroys their quality of life. Dr. Linda Madori, leading expert on Alzheimer's Disease, has an innovative methodology called the TTAP Method -- Therapeutic Thematic Arts Programming for Older Adults -- that helps those afflicted with AD disease have a better quality of life.
Object 1: Memory Box
The story behind it: The memory box was created by an 87 yr. old woman with mild Alzheimer's disease. The box was decorated with red decorations and has a photograph of a lock that the woman cut and glued onto the box. The memory that she created the box from was based on a positive experience the woman had going back 80 years when the woman was a child in the first grade. She remembered that she was very advanced in reading and writing. This memory made her very happy.
Object 2: Drawing of two rings overlapping
The story behind it: The drawing was made by a 67-year-old man with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Madori had a meditation session with the patient, who talked about the deep love he felt for his wife. Other positive memories include the first time he met his wife, how she had changed his life and how she visits him daily since he has been living in a facility away from home.
For more information about Dr.Madori's TTAP Method, visit www.ttapmethod.com.
WATCH THE INTERVIEW >>>

http://www.wpix.com/videobeta/b58baad4-7f95-413d-8b67-862d15f99db8/Health/TTAP-Method-Creative-Therapy-For-Alzheimer-s-Patients

Arx Art School in Finland

This is a picture of some of the artwork that was painted by disabled children. This is one of many walls covered with paintings at the school in Finland.

The Veterans Home in Finland using the TTAP Method

In these photos are war veterans that are experiencing the TTAP Method. They have a machine that makes sounds that are commonly heard, such as birds chirping and dogs barking. They are listening to animal noises and talking about the memories that the sounds bring back. One of the bird sounds reminded one veteran of a song they used to sing in the war. He begins to sing and soon enough all the men in the group are singing as well. He knows every word to the song and it was from so long ago, but just one sound triggered something in his long term memory and it was as if he was actually back in his war times.

The TTAP Method shows the impact it has on long term memory and reminiscing

The movie, shown below, was taken after a TTAP Method(c)Therapeutic Session.

Step #1-Conversation, Step 2-Meditation and going within, Step 4- Sculpture and Step 3- painting. The ability to have individuals go within and reminisce about the past and share those details through personal exchanges has now been proven to enhance overall well being and cognitive abilities.

TTAP Method in the News, Channel 11, WPIX

There are over 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer's Disease, a condition that destroys brain cells causing memory loss. For patients and for their families the disease also destroys their quality of life. Dr. Linda Madori, leading expert on Alzheimer's Disease, has an innovative methodology called the TTAP Method -- Therapeutic Thematic Arts Programming for Older Adults -- that helps those afflicted with AD disease have a better quality of life.
Object 1: Memory Box
The story behind it: The memory box was created by an 87 yr. old woman with mild Alzheimer's disease. The box was decorated with red decorations and has a photograph of a lock that the woman cut and glued onto the box. The memory that she created the box from was based on a positive experience the woman had going back 80 years when the woman was a child in the first grade. She remembered that she was very advanced in reading and writing. This memory made her very happy.
Object 2: Drawing of two rings overlapping
The story behind it: The drawing was made by a 67-year-old man with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Madori had a meditation session with the patient, who talked about the deep love he felt for his wife. Other positive memories include the first time he met his wife, how she had changed his life and how she visits him daily since he has been living in a facility away from home.
For more information about Dr.Madori's TTAP Method, visit www.ttapmethod.com.
WATCH THE INTERVIEW >>>

http://www.wpix.com/videobeta/b58baad4-7f95-413d-8b67-862d15f99db8/Health/TTAP-Method-Creative-Therapy-For-Alzheimer-s-Patients

Channel 11, WPIX, October 11 at 8:00 AM

The TTAP Method will be featured on Channel 11, WPIX on Monday Columbus Day October 11, between 8 and 9 am, 2010.

Watch the interview of Dr. Steve and Dr. Linda discuss the innovative TTAP Method , a multimodal approach (stimulating the individual emotionally, behaviorally, cognitively, sensorially and physically) and designed to reach the remaining strenghts of those with Alzheimer's disease.

The second TTAP Method Certification Training which was held in Chicago, at Edward Hospital in April of 2010. Today, Thursday October 7th the administration released early findings of the 6 month study on a Geropsyciatric Unit.

Ms. Trish Bendel, Edward Hospital Administrator States "I can tell you that we have decrease from having an average of 40 one to one supervision shifts a month down to an average of 4.6. This is an annualized savings of about 78 thousand dollars. Our fall rates (residents who Fall on the unit) have gone from an average of 5 per month to an average of 3!!!
The TTAP Method has been extremelly beneficial as these results demonstrate.
These results speak to the emotional, physical, and financial benefits the TTAP Method has on the care and treatment of those afflicted with Alzheimer's Disease.

Go to www.ttapmethod.com to learn more about the Certification Training's offered.

Students at St. Thomas Aquinas College learn the TTAP Method

I thought I would share some interesting photos from the Cornell University and Weil Medical College study, which was conducted in January through May 2009. View these "capturing" images from both my students who are learning the TTAP Method and the participants at Cornell "doing" the TTAP Method. Here are some of those images, notice the concentration and the "flow" as the participants explore the creative arts in painting and mask making.




This research study will be presented at the Gerontological Society Annual Conference on November 20, 2010. For more infomation go to geron.org.