"A smile and a relaxed composure or even moments of animation may be our goal for someone one day whereas in previous sessions they may have contributed significantly to the group conversation," says Rose McCarthy, a volunteer with Australia's New England Regional Art Museum, which offers a monthly "Remembering With Art" program for people with dementia.
"We hope it impacts positively on those who participate," adds McCarthy, who says the art museum's volunteers "try to give pleasure to our participants so their time with us at the gallery is a comfortable, happy, and a reassuring experience."
Participants range in age from their 80s to their 90s, and the museum's education officer says the maximum number of people in the program is six, per ABC News Australia.
"Our participants enjoy their time at the gallery, most of them verbalizing their happiness at being involved," says McCarthy.
"A smile and a relaxed composure or even moments of animation may be our goal for someone one day whereas in previous sessions they may have contributed significantly to the group conversation," she adds.
The program was inspired by the National Gallery of Australia's Art and Dementia pilot program, which trains volunteers to help people with dementia socially, emotionally, and mentally, per ABC News.
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