Posts Tagged ‘drama in nursing homes’

I enjoy taking odd hats and jewelry and scarves and things into the Advanced Alzheimer’s Unit. All it takes is one statement and a story or drama starts bubbling. One day, I picked up some feather boas that were left hanging in the corner. I started dancing with them and swinging them around. I placed them around my shoulders, grabbed the ends and started flying with them. “Let’s be birds,” I said, as I placed boas on each patient. Let’s give ourselves name. “I’ll be Birdie Bird,” said one. And then there was Cassie Bird and Ralph. Emma, evidently angered by her situation, said “I’ll be #!&%**# Bird.”
“OK,” said. “We have Birdie Bird, Cassie Bird, Ralph and #!&%**# Bird.
Emma looked at me and said. “I don’t think we should call it that. That doesn’t sound right.” We finally decided on “Bully Bird.”
We were off on an adventure as I told the story of the birds sitting on a fence and one falling off and the response of each bird. Each one was waving their arms, draped with feathers, and listening closely to what would happen next. FYI, Bully Bird was not a nice bird. Bully Bird added depth to the story.

Pat did not come out of her room often, until she discovered art and drama. She seemed to enjoy the social part and also the laughter and expression.
During a drama session, we were gathered in a circle with various roles for a song we were singing. Each person acted out his or her part of the song. Pat enjoyed dramatizing the part of the bird.

Bring out the old clothes and Halloween costumes from the boxes in storage and become someone different. Each person uses props and dreams up a new name with new interests, dreams, and idiosyncracies. As each person internalizes his or her new role, we dialog back and forth, as we come up with different settings and circumstances. The best part is the laughter. It is a time to forget troubles.