Professionals graduate from TTAP Method (c) Certificate Course

Professionals in the field of Healthcare including: Nurses, gerontologists, Recreation Therapists and Art Therapists completed the first University Certificate Course of 25 hours-over 4 days on the TTAP method. Students were required to completed and present a case study utilizing the TTAP Method with an individual or within a group structure, as shown above.

****Final Group Experiential****

As closing ritual, participants were asked to create a self reflective sculpture and place it somewhere near, in or around the circle made by the green ribbon as shown above.

Participants formed a circle around the sculpture and were asked to state a word, phrase or feeling that the Course had on them personally or professionally. Comments from the group include such statements as; this course has offered me a different way in which to practice, I feel more connected to other therapists and have made new professional connections both nationally and internationally, this course helped me think about new ideas and what is really happening inside the brain!

Creation of an Educational Certificate Course and 5 DVD Educational Training Series on the TTAP Method

It has been a responsibility of my Fulbright Scholarship Award to create an Educational Certificate Program through HAMK University, which will be taught yearly. This manual is in it's final editing stages will be submitted to the National Organizations of the American Art Therapy Association, the American Therapeutic Recreation Association, the American Society on Aging, as well as the New York State Department of Education for approval of Continuing Educational Credits in the United States. Along with this Certificate Course, it was my personal goal to also create an educational DVD training series. I thought it would be interesting for all who visit this blog daily, to see a small piece of this DVD that Amanda Alders has been editing steadfastly, which will be distributed upon academic review in 2010. These past 6 weeks have been full of promise for the field of Art/Therapeutic Recreation and it is my hope that these training DVD's will change the lives of all people living with or know someone with Alzheimer's Disease.

University of Tampere Invites me back in 2010 to teach and conduct research

In the final days of my Fulbright, Spring is ending and Summer vacations begin!

Below is a photo taken in front of the University of Tampere, where I was a guest lecturer last week to the Social Science School of Research. If it wasnt for Jari, I wouldnt be able to find my way, get to the book store for that special "tee shirt" that they never have, or pull my heavy bags along the street.

Throughout my 6 weeks in Finland, Jari and I have shared repeated conversations on how I was to get "where?", some great cold Finnish beers, and where to find the biggest falafels in town. But most importantly, kept me on time with his warm embracing smile. I will miss him as I start to pack up and head into my last week of teaching.

This Fulbright would not have been possible without the dedication of my dear friend who I have come to know over the past 5 years, Jari Aho. Below he is speaking to Sanna, my newest Finnish student who was responsible for picking me up at the airport, taking me grocery shopping and will drive me back to Helsinki next wednesday after my last class (Sanna, can you pick me up at 10 am instead of 11?) Thank you all for keeping me safe, feed and full of laughter on this wonderful journey!

Have a great Summer Vacation, on the lake surrounded by trees, flowers

and sounds of the Finnish summer!

Much love,

your friend and American family #2-

Linda

Dean announces that HAMK University of Applied Sciences will offer a course in the TTAP Method yearly.

The Dean announces department approval for the TTAP Method to be taught year round in the curriculum of HAMK University. Students will be advised and encouraged specifically in the area of Arts, Creativity and Wellness to do their final Thesis utilizing the TTAP Method, to further a coalition with the Hameelinna Alzheimer's Association. Students will study and conduct research at the specific sites choosen for the funding of the 3 year study starting in the Fall of 2009.

The Helsinki Alzheimer's Associations Staff, pictured above has worked closely with Dr. Levine Madori to create a pilot research study-dated to start September 2009- which will measure the variables of cognition, language, memory and recall with individuals in the Associations early onset community support program. It is the hope of both Anita Pohjanvuori, the Project Manager and Dr. Levine Madori that results of this study will be published internationally, mid to late 2010 and add to the efficacy research on Person Centered Programming and its effects on cognition and overall wellness.

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.