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Art activity pack will help to encourage creativity in people with dementia

Charity Artlink Central developed the resource to assist care home staff in their work 

Drawing, collage making and planting bulbs are some of the activities in an artist-designed pack to encourage creativity in people with dementia.

The pastimes, developed by Stirling-based art charity Artlink Central, are designed to help staff in day centres and care homes prompt conversations and reminiscences.

The toolkit focuses on gardening, and is the first in a planned series that will cover topics such as food, music, sports and films.

People can design, draw and colour in a garden using themed cards, which have been approved by dementia experts at the University of Stirling.

Jane Robertson, lecturer in dementia studies at the university, said the pack will be piloted in day care centres and residential care homes before being rolled out across UK health and social care services in the summer.

She added: ‘The toolkit aims to bring a number of benefits to people living with dementia by encouraging constructive conversations on a range of topics, engaging with personal histories and building social connections in care centres.’