Home care customers getting creative at IRT Peakhurst
Home Care customers are getting creative at IRT Peakhurst The art therapy class is proving a hit It’s about getting creative and making social connections The artists are enjoying the opportunity Molley Eltoft (left) with care worker and art therapist Cindi Abou Haidar and Lois Kroehnert. Home Care customers living at IRT Peakhurst have embraced […]
- Home Care customers are getting creative at IRT Peakhurst
- The art therapy class is proving a hit
- It’s about getting creative and making social connections
- The artists are enjoying the opportunity
Home Care customers living at IRT Peakhurst have embraced the opportunity to get into painting through an art therapy class.
Home care customers living at IRT Peakhurst have embraced the opportunity to get creative through an art therapy class.
Home Care Team Leader Julie Trpeski says the art class has been a great success and the residents, who were initially a little hesitant, are now enjoying the weekly class.
She explains that an opportunity presented itself when a former visual arts teacher, Cindi Abou Haidar, did work placement at IRT Peakhurst. Cindi is now a care worker at the community, and runs a two-hour painting class every Thursday morning.
“We’d been looking to get the residents into something creative,” Julie explains. “I spoke to four residents, who were also receiving home care, about getting involved in a regular painting class. Now they are absolutely loving it. They all underestimated themselves.”
When The Good Life spoke to Julie the classes had only just begun and so far the participants had done classes on landscapes, portraits and places.
Julie says all the participants are in their late 80s and early 90s. “They enjoy each other’s company. They also want [to do] more. It’s just encouraging. It’s something that takes them out of their [comfort] zone.”
Some of the artworks have been hung in the Home Care office and the IRT Peakhurst community is seeking artwork from the class too.
Cindi says every week she is pleasantly surprised with the wonderful work that the ladies produce.
Here’s what some of the artists think about their class:
“I am really enjoying it. I haven’t painted in so long.” – Lois Kroehnert
“I have never painted in my life and I thoroughly enjoy it every week. Good company and a good teacher.” – Maureen Falconer
“I love it and we have so much fun.” – Molley Eltoft
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