Education
Seaside Stories spark recollections A new program for people with dementia
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The museum recently began hosting specialised programs for people with dementia. This came about in response to a query, which fortuitously coincided with the commencement of a new role at the museum, the Lifelong Learning Officer. The position is held by Anna Gregory, who explains how the program was developed.
During this research and training phase, I learnt about the challenges of social isolation and the feelings of disorientation that can be experienced by people with dementia. It was moving and inspiring to learn about the many strengths of people with dementia. All this research and training informed the overall aim of the program:
IN JUNE, THE MUSEUM RECEIVED A QUERY from St Luke’s Care in the Sydney suburb of Potts Point asking whether we ran programs or tours for people with dementia. Over the next four months, as the new Lifelong Learning Officer, I immersed myself in research and resources relating to dementia. I investigated similar programs at other museums around the world and met with academics in the field of museums and aged care. I contacted Dementia Australia, Dementia Training Australia, Queensland State Archives and the Museum of Brisbane, and along with the museum’s other education staff, I completed online training courses.
Once the purpose of the program was clear, education staff began preparing the program plans.
Signals 141 Summer 2022–23
to develop and deliver affordable onsite programs for seniors, people with dementia and their carers, which promote reminiscence and story sharing, and encourage social interaction and connection.
As well as housing the National Maritime Collection of artworks and heritage objects, the museum also has an Education Collection, comprising objects that visitors can touch and handle. For the program for people with dementia, we selected Education Collection objects that we hoped would spark happy recollections and encourage discussion among participants. Together, we developed two themes: ‘Swimming and the Beach’ and ‘Suitcases and Travel’.