Creative Care: A Revolutionary Approach to Dementia and Elder Care

Creative Care: A Revolutionary Approach to Dementia and Elder Care

by Anne Basting
Creative Care: A Revolutionary Approach to Dementia and Elder Care

Creative Care: A Revolutionary Approach to Dementia and Elder Care

by Anne Basting

Paperback

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Overview

A MacArthur Genius Grant recipient pioneers a radical change in how we interact with older loved ones, especially those experiencing dementia, as she introduces a proven method that uses the creative arts to bring light and joy to the lives of elders.

In Creative Care, Anne Basting lays the groundwork for a widespread transformation in our approach to elder care and uses compelling, touching stories to inspire and guide us all—family, friends, and health professionals—in how to connect and interact with those living with dementia.

A MacArthur Genius Grant recipient, Basting tells the story of how she pioneered a radical change in how we interact with our older loved ones. Now used around the world, this proven method has brought light and joy to the lives of elders—and those who care for them. Here, for the first time, everyone can learn these methods. Early in her career, Basting noticed a problem: today’s elderly—especially those experiencing dementia and Alzheimer’s— are often isolated in nursing homes or segregated in elder-care settings, making the final years of life feel lonely and devoid of meaning. To alleviate their sense of aloneness, Basting developed a radical approach that combines methods from the world of theater and improvisation with evidence-based therapies that connect people using their own creativity and imagination.

Rooted in twenty-five years of research, these new techniques draw on core creative exercises—such as “Yes, and . . .” and “Beautiful Questions.” This approach fosters storytelling and active listening, allowing elders to freely share ideas and stories without worrying about getting the details “correct.” Basting’s research has shown that these practices stimulate the brain and awaken the imagination to add wonder and awe to patients’ daily lives—and provide them a means of connection, both with the world and with those caring for them. Creative Care promises to bring light and hope to a community that needs it most.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780062906182
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: 04/20/2021
Pages: 288
Sales rank: 232,611
Product dimensions: 5.20(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Anne Basting, PhD, is a leader in transforming aging and elder care and the recipient of a MacArthur “Genius” Grant. She is the founder of the nonprofit TimeSlips, which implements her innovative approach to memory care, and is the author of three previous academic books, The Stages of Age: Performing Age in Contemporary American Culture; Forget Memory: Creating Better Lives for People with Dementia; and The Penelope Project: An Arts-Based Odyssey to Change Elder Care. Her work as the founding director of University of Wisconsin Milwaukee’s Center on Age & Community was featured in the PBS documentary, The Penelope Project.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Finding Creative Care

Chapter 1 In Which Ruth Teaches Me What Joy Looks Like 3

Chapter 2 The Upside of Having No Friends 13

Part 2 Defining Creative Care

Chapter 3 When Opposites Come Together 43

Chapter 4 "Yes, and…" 59

Chapter 5 Beautiful Questions 75

Chapter 6 Proof of Listening 89

Chapter 7 Connecting to the Larger World 101

Chapter 8 Opening Yourself to Wonder 113

Chapter 9 All of the Above-Cultivating Awe in Our Lives 123

Part 3 Changing Care Through Creativity

Chapter 10 Penelope, the Hero Who Never Left Home 139

Chapter 11 From Islands to Archipelagos 161

Chapter 12 Bill Teaches Me about Time (and Rocks) 171

Chapter 13 Let Voices Ring 187

Chapter 14 "Wait, You Live Here?" 199

Chapter 15 "I'm Worth Stopping For" 215

Chapter 16 Wendy's Neverland, or Can Creative Care Be Scaled? 231

Conclusion: Facing the Future 261

Acknowledgments: A Bit on the Writing Process and Boundless Gratitude 271

Notes 275

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