Art helping to reduce anxiety

The study examined the gallery’s art access program, which invited people living with dementia and their carers to view and discuss works in the gallery.
So successful was the program, that it is now looking to extend it to residents in aged care facilities around the State.
The Diversional Therapists at Advantaged Care at Georges Manor, decided that rather than wait for the Gallery to visit them, they would organise a visit with their residents to the Art Gallery, to test the benefits for themselves.
The overwhelming response, from the group of residents who were able to go on the first visit, was extremely positive. So much so that the visits will now become a regular feature on Georges Manor’s itinerary program.
The visitors were split into smaller groups where Gallery Volunteers explained in depth about specific works and encouraged interaction from the visitors, with one resident commenting that it brought the artwork alive.
Never short on ideas, the full-time team of Diversional Therapists at Georges Manor, have an important task to design programs for their residents’ health and wellbeing. They meticulously plan and put into action numerous activities with the purpose of stimulating the mind and engaging the residents in sociable interaction.
Celebrating 10 years this year, Georges Manor in Georges Hall was the first of Advantaged Care’s aged care facilities.
It set benchmarks in developing the highest quality, sustainable built environments for seniors’ accommodation in NSW and has received many industry awards.