By Emmanuel Hospice
While gathering a curated kit of art supplies, Joan Blessings marvels at how the act of creativity can bring such physical and emotional comfort to the patients she serves through Emmanuel Hospice.
A longtime fan of arts and crafts herself, Blessings never anticipated a day she’d be incorporating her hobby into her work. As a licensed massage therapist and member of the complementary therapy team, she works to manage patient symptoms through the power of touch, essential oils and other services.
But now with Art Legacy, Emmanuel Hospice’s newest complementary service offering, she’s also able to share her passion with patients, giving them the opportunity to create and leave behind legacy artwork for their loved ones.
“Art has a way of working different parts of the brain and bringing up different memories, as well has having positive effects physically,” Blessings says. “As patients create, their breathing can get easier, their shoulders relax, they laugh and smile more – it’s amazing to see the impact it can have.”
Art Legacy is designed to encourage self-expression while assisting with symptom management, supporting memories and providing connection. The program utilizes a variety of materials and relies on the creativity of Art Legacy facilitators, like Blessings, to give patients the opportunity to create.
As a complementary service, Art Legacy is used alongside pharmaceutical and other medical approaches to help with mood regulation and coping, as well as anxiety, restlessness or boredom.
In addition to this new art program, Emmanuel Hospice offers other complementary services such as music therapy, pet visitors, virtual reality and acupuncture, to name a few. Blessings says what sets Art Legacy apart from the other offerings is how it engages patients.
“It’s important to us to provide our patients with a variety of options that engage the senses and create unique, joyful memories,” Blessings says. “Art Legacy is one more way we are able to do that. It differs from our other complementary offerings in that most of those services are something that the patient or loved ones are receiving rather than creating.
“Art Legacy really involves our patients in hands-on, enriching activities that improve their quality of life through self-expression, symptom management and more.”
The program also provides an opportunity to make a hand mold with or for their loved ones as a meaningful and tangible artifact. The hand mold can be of the patient’s hand alone or with a loved one to commemorate a relationship.
For patients who are more isolated, Art Legacy not only provides a way to engage with something but also someone. Patients enjoy the comfort of companionship that is included with a session through an Art Legacy facilitator.
Whether it be a staff member or trained volunteer, Art Legacy facilitators offer a compassionate presence while patients create. While an interest in art is helpful, no experience is needed to serve as a facilitator.
“Art Legacy facilitators don’t have to be super artsy; they can just be there to facilitate the activity,” Blessings explains. “We’re really there to spend quality time with someone, to bring some joy to their life and to offer them some love in a different way.”
Individuals who are interested in volunteering or learning more about Emmanuel Hospice can visit EmmanuelHospice.org for more information.
