Rome April 10, 2013

Susanne MeurerGraphics by Lilith Zulli

The Memory of Beauty

Guided tours for people affected by Alzheimer’s

disease

THE ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of senile dementia

2010: 35,6 million people affected by Alzheimer

2030: 65,7 million people affected by Alzheimer

Until today no cure is available

THE PROJECT

The Memory of Beauty is a permanent initiative by the

Museum’s Educational Department dedicated to people

affected by Alzheimer’s disease and their caregiver.

CYCLE OF 3 OR 4 GUIDED TOURS

thematic art modules

small group of partecipants

(6-8 patients plus caregiver)

tours given by especially

trained operators

THE RESULTS OF MEDICAL RESEARCH

The programme has positive effects on:

the cognition of demented health caregivers’ emotional health

If further research will confirm these data,

the museum visit will become a precious

resource for the management of

Alzheimer‘s disease

PROCESSES AND EVALUATION TOOLS

Partnership relationshipThe project needs a steady relationship between

the museum operators and the medical staff

different purpose museum identity

• clinical evaluation

• evaluation linked to the

specificity of museum education and cultural

mediation

• impact on indirect adressees

WHAT TO ASSESS?

Can the visits to the museum alleviate some symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease ?

THE CLINICAL EVALUATION REMAINS A DECIDEDLY MEDICAL FIELD TO WHICH THE MUSEUM CAN CONTRIBUTE ONLY IN RESIDUAL WAY

Museum evalution

• impact of the visit• relationship between socio-cultural background

and appreciation of the guided tour

The main outcomes

• little relevance of the socio-cultural background

• little impact of patient’s habit of visiting museums

• medium to high levels of attention

IMPACT ON INDIRECT ADRESSEES

• caregiver

• museum staff

• medical staff

• How and in which way the museum staff learns about and cooperates with the project

• Which is the internal comunication

• Which are the critical points in welcoming to the museum such «unusual» visitors

• Which are the costs, both human and financial

• Which are the effects of the project on the museum

Whether and how THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MUSEUM

has changed

Whether and how THEIR WAY TO RELATE TO ARTWORKS has changed

Medical staff and Caregiver

This experience has changed your consideration of the museum?

Yes 82% of medical staff, more than 50% caregiver

“In my eyes the museum has changed from being a static educational ambience to an occasion for "culture in motion“. It made

me also appreciate the emotional effects of artistic stimulation, independently of the "understanding of the content" of the work.”

(Doctor)

“Because I see that the museum is not just for the educated. It is positive for all, art is good for everyone” (Caregiver)

MEDICAL STAFF AND CAREGIVER

• All respondents are fully satisfied with the experience• The experience is considered to be valid not only for Alzheimer's patients because it transforms the museum into a place open to participation, accessible to all.

Museum:Since 2013, the Educational Service of the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna has launched a project of GUIDED TOURS FOR PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS in partnership with a public assisted residence centre for mental health patients.

• New tours for visitors

• Experience with an artist: The reverse Grand Tour by Valerio Rocco Orlando

• Confrontation with other museums: New York 2013

• Acquisition of new skills for both medical and museum staff, acquired by a “learning-by-doing” process through continuous evaluation and mutual feedback

THE MOST CRITICAL ELEMENT for the project is its sustainability in time scantiness of financial resources scantiness of human resources only informal agreements with the medical partners

• New audiences

• New fields of investigation• Experimenting with new ways of communication

and mediation• Participation in Congresses and public debates

• Focus on the project for dissertations and scientific

publications• Icom-Ceca Award for Best Practice in 2012

“To interact with patients affected by Alzheimer in a special environment such as a museum is a very formative

experience that enriches our job: we are learning to look at artworks with a new point of view and with a new

sensibility” (Museum staff)

The confrontation with the Alzheimer’s patients returns a different way of interpreting and relating to works of art, to the museum and the artists.

Head of project: Martina De Luca

Staff:Laura CampanelliFabiola Di Fabio

Valentina FilamingoCarla Gunnella

Susanne MeurerLilith Zulli

susanne.meurer@beniculturali.it

Thank you for your attention