Alli's Internship Day 40

Yesterday I did the TTAP Method with two geriatric residents. One of them has Alzheimer's Disease and the other has Crohn's Disease. This time we made memory boxes. I brought two boxes from Micheal's craft store that were only $1.99 each and were surprisingly very nice and great for this project. I also bought beads that you would normally put in a vase for that extra effect, but i used them as gems to glue onto the memory boxes. I also got wooden cut-outs that they could paint and put on the box as well. After the meditation of the memories were pouring out of them like it was happening right than and there. One resident talked about her brother's wedding and how she used to look after her brother and she always played more of the mother role. She said she was so proud of him in that moment and has not had that feeling in a while. She described the beach wedding in Hawaii down to the smallest detail of her sister in-laws wedding dress. She said it was sunny and the weather couldn't be more perfect, that in a glance her brother went from a boy to a man. She was also crying for most of the wedding she said both happy and sad tears. She was so proud and happy that he had grown up and was moving forward in life in a positive way. She also said she was sad to see he go in a different direction than where she was going but the still remand close. To this day he calls her every weekend to make sure she is ok and he is the only family she has left, she said she was glad about how great their relationship is. The other resident also a wedding during the meditation, but this wedding was her own. She said it was the happiest day of her life. Her wedding was at the city hall and she said that it didn't matter where she was, she was just so happy that she was marrying the man of her dreams. She said that she had a reception but the wedding was small and intimate. She never wanted anything big and city hall was a perfect fit for them. She had a big family and also married into a big family. She also said that she can replay that whole day in her head over and over like a movie as if it was just yesterday. They then painted the boxes and added the cut-outs and gems to it they came out really nice, better than I had imagined and they loved it. Inside the boxes we put key words that would bring them back to that day they remembered, such as ...wedding, Hawaii, city hall, cake, the colors from the wedding, the type of cake that was served, rings, the names of the couples, and things like that. Overall I think that this was one of the most powerful and emotional sessions that I have done so far. It was very successful.

Alli's Internship Day 38

Today I was on 3rd floor geriatrics, which is a mix of young and older adults and also rehab. This morning we did current events with a coffee social and then we bowled. The residents love bowling and they do so well at it too. The snow caused us to be under staffed today so it was a busy morning. Wednesday I and doing the TTAP Method with painting a memory box and adding gems and wooden cut-outs they can also paint for the box. I cannot wait to do the TTAP Method they really seem to like it and the body relaxation and the guided meditation. I have almost finished the 9 steps of the TTAP Method, I will keep you posted on how it goes on Wednesday!

Alli's Internship Day 34

Yesterday I did the TTAP Method with some residents and we painted masks that looked like their old best friends for when they were younger. One resident painted and colored a mask of her old best friend Molly who moved away when she was little because her father was in the Navy and they were always moving. She said that it was the best friend she had ever had and that she would love to reconnect with her if she could. The other resident saw her old best friend Anna she painted her as a character she said because that's exactly what she was. They were friends up until she moved also they were always together. Two peas in a pod. They used to play on the farm all day. We also were on the 3rd and 4th floor of geriatrics we played Wii games and played basketball and then downstairs there was entertainment in the afternoon a singer who they really enjoy. Yesterday was very successful.

Alli's Internship

Yesterday at my internship there was entertainment hired for the residents on Valentine's Day. It was a singer who usually does weddings and parties it was his first time at a facility like outs, nursing and rehab. He sang love songs and classics that all the residents knew, they absolutely loved it. He went around to every resident and sang with them even danced with some of them. The recreation staff and I danced, clapped, and sang with the residents it was a very good way to help them feel loved on Valentine's Day. Wednesday I will be doing the TTAP Method with the residents and we will be making memory boxes.

Another Research Study On The TTAP Method from Finland

Hämeenlinna, Degree Programme in Creative Arts(HAMK)
Author: Tarja Heikkinen
Year 2010
Subject of Master’s thesis: Therapeutic Thematic Arts Programming
in psychiatric day centre

ABSTRACT

The aim of this thesis was to examine the impact of Therapeutic
Thematic Arts Programming, created for elderly people, when used in
Psychiatric day activity and to assess the usability of the method in
mental health work. The research question was approached from the
viewpoint of people recovering from mental health problems. The research
was implemented during twelve sessions of a psychiatric day activity
group. In this qualitative study the research methods used were
through observation and group interview, which was carried out
during the last group meeting. The theory of TTAP method was implemented
in this study and essential matters of mental health and mental health
rehabilitation as well as the groundings of art therapy were considered.

According to the research results the group’s experiences of TTAP
Method were positive and the method was regarded suitable for mental
health re-habilitation when the special characteristics are taken into
consideration in planning. The continuous process, where the chosen
theme was treated through various creative methods was considered the
benefit of the method. In addition, the group gained multiple experiences of
success. The activities strengthened both team spirit and enhanced emotional and social
interaction in the group. Through this pilot study, the development to apply the TTAP Method regularly to support the aims defined in mental health rehabilitation became an outcome to this research.

Further research could also be done on the effects of TTAP method on
Specific variables of personal empowerment and enhanced well-being.

Keywords: Therapeutic Thematic Arts Programming (TTAP), learning
styles, mental health rehabilitation, psychiatric day centre,
solution-focused, art therapies.

New Research on The TTAP Method from Finland

Tampere University of Applied Sciences
Master´s Degree in the Field of Social and Mental Health Care
Degree Programme
in Health Promotion
Care of Ageing and Long-term patientsHÄIVÄLÄ, ELINA & JASKARI, TUULIA:
”Tuntuu rinnassa ja saa päässä raksuttamaan” – The Impact of the
TTAP Method on the Social Capacity of Dementia Residents
Thesis 178 pages, appendices 5 pages.
November 2010
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ABSTRACT
This paper is based on a workplace development programme and is linked
to the Government Demke Project for the Aging. The purpose of the research was to obtain, by way of qualitative observation, information on the effect that the TTAP
(Therapeutic Thematic Arts Programming) Method ® has on the social
capacity of dementia patients in a Sopimusvuori dementia care home. The
aim was to learn whether the TTAP method improves the dementia
residents' social capacity and what impact the TTAP method has on the
residents' social capacity from the perspectives of the individual and
the community.

The study was executed as action research in cooperation with a group
of experts. It originated from the writers' interest in the subject and
the desire to test the practical and replicable implications of the TTAP Method® by
creating groups specifically for dementia care. The research data was
collected and summarized qualitatively. The effects of the TTAP Method ® on social
capacity was assessed with data collection from evaluation forms describing the dementia
residents' social capacity as well as by observational recordings of the cognitive interactions of the TTAP groups.

It can be concluded from the results of this research study that the TTAP
Method ® improves a structure which naturally enhances the social capacity of dementia residents by supporting an individual's social abilities within a group setting and strengthening the social capacity within the Dementia home community. In addition, the TTAP groups improve dementia residents' general well-being. The TTAP Method ® provides the means to give an individual more time and space to present his or her personality. Sharing recollections and
feelings in a TTAP Method® group brings one considerable pleasure. In a community, the TTAP method deepens the feeling of communality by e.g. increasing mutual empathy inside the group.

In the future, the activities provided should be diversified according to the dementia
residents' personal needs.

Keywords: Social capacity, TTAP method, Dementia, Provided activities,
Dementia care home.

***

Alli's Internship Day 30

Today I did the TTAP Method with two geriatric residents. We did photo therapy and we painted photo frames and decorated them. During the meditation one of the residents saw her whole family at a family reunion some people she said she hasn't seen in so long she said, since she was a little girl. The other lady saw a picture of her and her husband from there wedding day. We talked about the guests and the wedding and what her favorite parts of the night were. It was very interesting for me to see a glimpse into their lives and their families. They were very informative about the people they saw and how they felt during what they saw during the meditation. Also I was on 4th floor this morning where the CTRS and I did a Wii & Basketball group. After lunch we went down to the 3rd floor and did a young adult sensory group and than did a reminiscing group about old celebrity couples with the older population.

Alli's Internship Day 28

So today starts my sixth week interning, and I can't believe how fast it has gone I am almost half way done! Today I worked 8-1 because i have to go to school. I was on the 2nd floor for the time i was there, with the young adults. The high school came to the day room this morning for music class and this gave the opportunity for the residents who have graduated from school to participate and engage with the students and teacher for the educational experience. Since this month is black history month they did a lesson on all the important African Americans who made changes in our world and that impacted the way the world is today. They sung songs that were in that time period or that were sung during a specific event that happened. It was very informative and educational. They seemed to really like it. They got everyone involved and even I learned things I didn't know. Then by the time the school left it was about time for lunch but we put music on for them while we set up for lunch. They love music and respond so positively to it. They also like the recent hits that we like so it just makes it that much more fun because everyone winds up dancing or sining and having a good time. Then as soon as lunch was ready we left the floor and when to the office did paperwork and attendance, and we planned for the week for a while. Today was a pretty relaxed day, we will wait and see what tomorrow brings!

Alli's Internship Day 24

Today I went in late due to the weather. I arrived shortly before lunch, after lunch I was on second floor with the CTRS and we set up a valentine's sensory group. We used pink and red lights, a red table with pink and red tactile and visual things. Since the weather was bad this morning the kids did not have school so there were more than we usually have for a group which was nice because the two of us got to spilt it and it worked out really well. We put on soothing music and gave them a massage with the different tactile things. After that I got all the supplies I needed to do the TTAP Method and this time we did a themed event and since valentine's day is coming up we made cards with different things such as felt and string. In the guided imagery, there was someone waiting for them in the garden with red roses and a smile on their face. One lady who I was working with saw her husband who she has been with for 40 years. He is coming to visit her two Monday's from now and she is very excited. The other lady I was working with saw her very first boyfriend and his name was Ray. She said that she hasn't seen him in ages and they were childhood friends who dated a few times. We then decorated the cards which came out quite nicely. They each personalized the cards to someone that was important and close to their hearts to send them off to. The one lady made it for her husband and the other made it to her cousin who happens to be her guardian. They enjoyed the group they both love trying new things and they like it so much because its different then what they do day to day. Today I stay late and I was on first floor pediatrics with the babies. They are so cute we listened to music, danced around, got them in their pj's and then put in a movie for them to fall asleep too. We will see what the rest of the week brings but hopefully no more snow!