practical living
Margaret Ryan (centre) alongside a student and a resident from Bupa Roseville.
Budding relationships
A flower arranging program
is helping Bupa residents with
dementia to form stronger bonds
with staff and student volunteers.
Margaret Ryan interviewed by Megan Tran
R
esidents at Bupa Aged Care in
Sydney’s Roseville have been
introduced to an Ikebana program
to help empower those with dementia.
The ancient Japanese flower art
is believed to improve cognitive and
sensory stimulation. The process also
provided an opportunity for socialising,
according to Bupa’s head of dementia
services, Margaret Ryan.
“A person living with a memory-loss
condition may enjoy activities even if
they do not remember them. What is
important is that the moment is enjoyed,
even though the experience may be soon
forgotten. The sense of wellbeing and
the positive feelings generated will be
retained longer,” Ryan said.
24 agedcareinsite.com.au
She added that partaking in group
activities can be engaging and satisfying
even when language and processing skills
are diminished by dementia.
Ryan said artistic outlets like craft,
dance and exercise may bring many
benefits to their residents by helping to
preserve motor skills and provide a sense
of ownership and accomplishment. She
cites, for example, dancing prompting
someone to remember the good times.
Some residents discovered an artistic
side to their personality that they weren’t
aware of before, and said the experience
was “not about the product but the
process”, Ryan said.
To the untrained eye, Ikebana may
seem like a few flowers in a bowl, but
in this context, it played a pivotal role in
empowering Bupa’s residents, according
to recreational activities officer Anna
Timbang.
“Ikebana has been practised for more
than 600 years, and is an empowering
form of self-expression for our
residents who are living with dementia.
They respond well and have shown
improvements in their mood after a
session,” Timbang said.
Students from local high school
Loreto Kirribilli volunteer at the home
weekly, including Year 10 student Isabella
Rubina, who said the activity allows her
to understand the condition.
“My grandfather had dementia, so I
am familiar with disease. Volunteering
at the home has been an eye-opening
experience and reminded me to continue
being more compassionate,” Rubina said.
Aged Care Insite spoke with Ryan
to find out more about the impact of
Ikebana on residents.
ACI: What is Ikebana and how are you
using it?
MR: Ikebana is a traditional Japanese
approach to flower arranging that is
about creative self-expression. We’ve
been able to apply some of its principles
by having activities around flower