“I got to know Cristina Fino through the CARE&Management magazine and even before I met her in person at this year’s meeting I was able to appreciate the passion and professionalism with which she does her work. I would say that she has given us excellent and valuable therapeutic tools for the care work with our elderly.
Three residents of the S.Teresa care home in Livraga followed a project with the theme Flowers 2, combined with art therapy.
Working in this small group, I had the opportunity to shape the project by customising it as much as possible for each lady.
Many goals were achieved: one lady went from social isolation and apathy to rediscovering her independence, creating a weekly routine related to the activity, increasing her self-esteem, and improving manual dexterity over the months.
For Mrs. E., on the other hand, the vision of the images stimulated that emotional memory linked to her past life, to the flowers she cared for with commitment and love, about which she sometimes spoke, distracting herself from confused thoughts and agitated moments. The presence of her painter daughter at the final day of the project filled her heart with joy, as she painted the poppies with truly astonishing dexterity and speed.
Mrs. V., on the other hand, entered the project on the way due to very pronounced wandering. Watching the sequences so caught her attention that she gradually stopped with us in the Occupational Room. She rediscovered words and the ability to see beauty. She started to relax and on the final day she even painted, intrigued by brushes and colours.
When caring becomes a team effort, there is a lot of satisfaction.”
Testimony of Valentina Pirola, Occupational Therapist at the Santa Teresa care home in Livraga (LO), Italy.
