Wouldn't you pick up a paintbrush if art were the only way you could communicate?

The Delaware Valley Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association joined efforts with Taller to meet this need. The program, launched in Philadelphia’s Latino community in October 2001, conducts weekly watercolor painting workshops for a group of up to ten participants. The group meets under the combined guidance of a visual artist (trained by the Alzheimer’s Association to work with individuals with memory loss and dementia), a Latino Outreach Specialist from the Alzheimer’s Association and Taller’s Outreach Coordinator. Successful art exhibitions and celebrations of Memories in the Making are held in Taller’s Gallery. Families and community supporters gather each June for a recognition ceremony for participants, community volunteers and program staff, and to view the body of work created throughout the year.

Alzheimer's patients are doing just that, even if they have never painted before. One of the greatest tragedies associated with Alzheimer’s disease is the loss of the ability to communicate. At a time when people are most in need of support and assurance, the disease robs them of the ability to communicate their confusion and fears, as well as their hopes and wishes. "Memories in the Making" (MIM) is an innovative art therapy program that enables persons with dementia (PWD) to express themselves through art. This special art therapy program was first piloted in Orange County, California and has been implemented in Philadelphia since 2001 to serve individuals with dementia from the Hispanic/Latino community for whom linguistic and cultural differences also present additional barriers to services.