Innovative Partnership with Mandurah Library Makes For Creative Seniors

A collaboration between Mercy Place Mandurah and Mandurah libraries will see seniors immersed in regular art appreciation sessions to encourage interaction, conversations and trips down ‘memory lane’, particularly among residents living with dementia.

Reflecting with Art facilitates regular monthly sessions led by local volunteers who have been trained by Alzheimer’s WA. Guest artists are also invited to join sessions to showcase and discuss their artworks, and to build connections with Mercy Place residents.

Mercy Place Mandurah Service Manager, Christina Venables, explains the partnership is aimed towards exposing residents to the creative process to improve their physical, mental and emotional well-being.

“Art therapy is a powerful way of engaging with older people, and it also creates a forum for them to interact with others and to form relationships,” Ms Venables says.

“It’s a form of expressive therapy that can trigger memories of our residents’ younger years, while also helping them to feel calm and relaxed and reducing feelings of confusion or stress.

“We’re very grateful to Mandurah Libraries for developing this program and inviting Mercy Place Mandurah residents to be part of it.”

Kat Gauci, from the Mandurah Community Museum visited Mercy Place Mandurah to discuss local history and explore museum artefacts from the local collection on Wednesday 4 October as part of the Reflecting with Art program.

Find out more about Mercy Health.