Exploring Objects with PwD
The GLAM sector can play an important role in supporting programs aimed at stimulating memories and engagement of PwDs and their carers, providing sources for reminiscence-based as well as other psychosocial intervention methods. The objects we encounter exhibited in museums or archives can evoke life memories. However, we must also leave enough space for other topics or open questions that are not always aimed at recalling but also at provoking reactions that arouse feelings and the desire to participate.
In addition to physical visits to museums and archives, PwD and caregivers can also explore 3D models on the Internet. The most famous platform for viewing 3D models and sharing and using them is certainly Sketchfab. Typing a term into the search engine opens numerous 3D models such as personal items or works of art that can serve as an excellent source of interpretation or conversation about everyday life, or simply a topic for reminiscing.
In any case, a good selection of objects plays an important role in preparing the theme of the museum program or online program for PwD.
Why is it useful?
It may help museum and archive staff design a PwD program. Working with PwD is not the same as working with other visitors. There are certain challenges that we have to take into account.
It assists in the selection of a work of art, museum object or archive material in galleries, museums or archives. People who work as guides or pedagogues have previous experience in working with visitors. They know which subjects attract the most attention. But are these objects or works of art good for working with PwD?
It helps to design the user's experience in cultural institutions. Nowadays, in museum or archive pedagogy, we use various tools for working with visitors - interaction, storytelling, and recently more often storysharing. Employees begin to use those methods that enable full interaction with visitors.
Social aspect
Exploring GLAM objects and places with PwD supports mental condition and managing daily life, reduces behavioural problems and improves well-being. Exploring objects aims to train or maintain cognitive abilities, improve or stabilise daily skills, and promote mental well-being. In addition, it reduces problematic behaviour such as anxiety and irritability and also improves physical fitness
Activities:
1. How to Organise an Art Discussion?
Choose a few works of art or museum objects that are interconnected by a particular theme. In collaboration with the curators, prepare a brief description of each subject. Make a list of questions with which you will start a dialogue with PwD and interact in the art program. However, leave enough space for open-ended questions.

What will we gain?
- Collaborating on the preparation of works of art with other museum or archive staff increases understanding for the challenges PwD faces.
- A pre-prepared and structured scenario contributes to the quality of the program and reduces the risk of failure, misunderstanding, or dissatisfaction that PwD may feel.
- From a healthy lifestyle perspective, this module can give PwD the opportunity to learn how to explore objects using all their senses when visiting a museum, archive or heritage site with a carer or family member, helping them to stimulate their emotional and cognitive skills, to express their emotions and to strengthen their memory by including in their programme visits and thought, brain and memory processes which, with the presence of other factors (diet, light exercise), can help PwD to lead healthier lives.
ACTIVITY
Download the activity PDF:
How to organise art discussion.pdf
Think about which museum or archive objects are interesting and can get a good result in working with PwD? Are they objects for personal use or artistic pictures, is it technical equipment such as radio receivers or old postcards of your city?
- Create a list in collaboration with curators.
- Find out as much information as possible not only about the work of art or the museum object, but also about the features of the time from which it originates.
- If, due to the value of the object, you cannot use it in your work, look for auxiliary materials or objects that can be a good substitute and help... for example, a costume from the beginning of the 20th century - get fabrics and beads that PwD can hold in their hands and feel them.
- Prepare a schedule of the workshop, but keep in mind unforeseen situations in which you will have to be spontaneous or ready for crisis situations if unwanted reactions of your interlocutor appear.
- Educate yourself on how to communicate with a person in such situations.
- The conversation is a very good thing, but it is also a workshop in which PwD will actively participate in the creation of a work of art or handicrafts.
What will we need?
- Establish cooperation with curators: the curator can give us information about the museum artefact and guide us to the cultural and historical value of it. Based on this information, we can devise an interpretation of the object to PwD.
- Use replicas and other aids in the work: in some cases, we will not use original museum objects, but we will use replicas or other museum aids. PwD will want to touch the object we are talking about, as will others with cognitive disabilities. Denying tactile touch can reduce the quality of work and further demotivate a person to participate in work.
- Provide a space for work: make sure that the space is pleasant, illuminated by daylight and that there are no sounds that prevent quality work.
- Proximity to toilets and other service areas: be sure to organise work near service areas if people want to freshen up.
Points for reflection
- Take a look at the work done so far with visitors to museums or archives. How do they participate in museum education?
- Is there a good practice you can use to work with PwD?
Resources
Video: IMMA launches dementia-inclusive online tours
2. Interpretation and Sharing Personal Stories
When interpreting, we try to discover the meanings hidden behind individual objects. The key is the interpretation of the user's experience and his/her memories and to encourage PwD to share their stories with each other. Dialogue between caregivers and curators / educators is extremely important because information about the habits and needs of a PwD can help the guide prepare or adapt a program at the museum.
This activity can be helpful to promote self-esteem as it gives to PwD the opportunity for meaningful exchanges, both with family members / informal carers and with peers when implemented in group settings. Also, it gives PwD an opportunity to talk about their life history and interests to help bring out different parts of their personality, thus supporting in him/her identity and sense of self.
You can also address an approach where the PwD is not expected to remember and talk about memories as this can lead to withdrawal and loss of self-confidence. PwDs struggle with memory loss. But we can try a different approach in a way to accept PwD as they are in the present and to offer them the freedom of imagination because in the symbolism of works of art there are no wrong answers.

What will we gain?
- Understanding how to encourage a person to exchange ideas, to reflect on a personal life experience and how to encourage a person to get involved in activities.
- From a healthy lifestyle perspective, this module can give PwD the opportunity to learn how to explore objects using all their senses when visiting a museum, archive or heritage site with a carer or family member, helping them to stimulate their emotional and cognitive skills, to express their emotions and to strengthen their memory by including in their programme visits and thought, brain and memory processes which, with the presence of other factors (diet, light exercise), can help people with dementia to lead healthier lives.
ACTIVITY
Download the activity PDF:
Interpretation and Storysharing.pdf
It is advisable to prepare several topics that can be discussed. Conversation encourages interpretation. It is a good idea to prepare a few questions to encourage the interlocutors to share their feelings or thoughts about the subject in question. Of course, participants in this exercise can also use personal items.
Step one:
If you are in a museum, archive or library, choose a few objects that will be the subject of interpretation.
Extract basic information about each individual subject or group of subjects. Present the items to the participants.
Step two:
Interpretation of the subject can begin by asking simple questions such as:
Have you already encountered the same or similar object?
Does the item remind you of events or people or other phenomena?
Can you describe the subject in your own words?
Step 3:
We can move from subject interpretation to storysharing. It is a process through which we share personal stories or recount experiences that we have participated in once or more in our lives. Retelling for certain people can be extremely demanding, especially if the people are shy, so pay special attention to the way you approach these people.
Top tip: Try not to be intrusive or force the person to speak if they are not ready. Assess how ready the person is and allow enough time to relax or adjust to the rest of the group, environment, sounds, etc.
What will we need?
- A well-prepared learning scenario or workshop schedule. It is good to stick to the planned schedule, but keep in mind that deviations are possible and that you need to be flexible in changing the schedule of activities, especially when it comes to working with people with dementia.
- Information on whether museum staff have attended a course or workshops to acquire competencies to work with PwD in museums. How to create a safe and comfortable museum environment for working with PwD. Does PwD need a ramp or wheelchair?
Points for reflection
- Keep in mind that demented people suffer from short-term memory loss. This means that they may not recall the information and data talked about just before.
- PwD will sometimes find it harder to express themselves due to the lack of appropriate words in the vocabulary or will offer a substitute for a particular word that may not match the meaning.
- PwD often suffer from poor orientation in space, so they often cannot discern proportions, perspective on a work of art.
- When preparing a program and working with PwD, always be aware of the challenges that the disease brings, but never talk about the disease while running the program.
Resources
Meet Me | Art Discussion Programs for Individuals with Dementia
3. Art Making/Therapy Programmes
Art workshops or art therapy programs in museums or galleries enable PwD to become actively involved in practical work. Interpretation of museum objects or works of art is a good introduction to imagination and preparation to get involved in practical work.
Different painting and sculpting techniques help in expression. Small artistic masterpieces become reminders and testimony of creation, imagination and the way we experience the environment in which we find ourselves.
It is encouraged to organise exhibitions of completed works, because in this way family members and friends can be included in the overall event, and the public is made aware of the importance of the programs for PwD.

What will we gain?
We believe that imagination, conversation and recollection contribute to the preservation of memory. Socialising and a sense of belonging can affect a sense of security and peace. These programs are cognitive programs for the elderly with the goal of reducing the risk of dementia or slowing the disease. It is not a program that teaches techniques or how to use the medium but teaches how to communicate and interpret an idea through mind regeneration and rethinking our perception - imagination.
ACTIVITY
Download the activity PDF:
Art Making Therapy Programmes.pdf
Art programs can be conducted by competent employees in the GLAM sector. In some cases, external experts such as art therapists can be hired to design/organise a program for PwD in collaboration with museum or archive pedagogues or curators.
What is needed to organise a workshop?
Workshop space
It is desirable that the space for the workshop be separated from the rest of the institution. It is important to ensure peace and smooth working with PwD. The space must be airy, preferably lit by daylight and without noise. Place tables and chairs in the space for work, as well as an area for refreshments during breaks.
Workshop time
The time of the workshop must be determined in agreement with the caregivers. PwD often have daily routines that need to be followed. Also, it is important to consider how long PwD will be able to participate in the workshop due to fatigue, poor concentration or other factors.
Material
Materials for therapeutic workshops can be diverse. However, keep in mind that dyes are used that are not harmful and can be removed from clothing. It is not out of place to give protective aprons to the participants to use. Eliminate sharp tools and equipment, complicated and demanding painting or sculpting techniques.
What will we need?
When preparing programs in which people with dementia will participate, we must pay attention to the following guidelines:
- number of users in the group,
- participation of an escort (caregiver or family member),
- for working with users - handling objects, making objects, tasting familiar flavors - awakening all the senses - perception - immersion.
When we take into account the materials we will work with, we can use a wide range of drawing, painting and sculpture techniques that enable simple expression and work.
Points for reflection
- Allow PwD to settle down comfortably. Start an informal conversation, listen carefully and patiently to the person telling you, pay attention to informal communication and body gestures.
- Take care of unforeseen situations by not at any time preventing PwD from touching or participating in the handling of museum or archival items.
- Provide a place for the caregiver. Depending on the degree of dementia, the sick person will be able to participate in the program independently, while others will be accompanied by a family member or caregiver
Resources
Video: The VERA framework – caring for patients with dementia
Video: The Museum of Modern Art
Video: Museum of London / Dementia - friendly tours
Video: Meet Me | Art Making Programs for Individuals with Dementia
EDUCATOR NOTES
We all like to create something with our hands. It is possible for everyone to paint, draw or sculpt. That this is really so, it is necessary to teach those people who participate in training courses for caregivers.
GLAM PROFESSIONALS NOTES
The GLAM sector, in addition to its role in the protection of cultural property, increasingly plays the role of generator of good ideas, implementation of socially useful projects and programs. From seemingly closed institutions, these institutions have fully opened to the public and through numerous events complement the offer of cultural and social content.
Employees who are in charge of developing programs for visitors and users acquire new skills and competences and fundamentally change their approach to work for the better.
This is evidenced by the growing number of new programs designed for PwD. Equally, there is an increasing number of courses for improvement and training through which the importance of art, music and dance is emphasised in nurturing the mental hygiene of all of us.
CARERS NOTES
From a healthy lifestyle perspective, this module can give PwD the opportunity to learn how to explore objects using all their senses when visiting a museum, archive or heritage site with a carer or family member, helping them to stimulate their emotional and cognitive skills, to express their emotions and to strengthen their memory by including in their programme visits and thought, brain and memory processes which, with the presence of other factors (diet, light exercise), can help people with dementia to lead healthier lives.
Exploring objects and participating in art therapy programs with PwD can be effective on building self-efficacy as it offers him/her an opportunity to engage in an exchange where they can express themselves and interact without the pressure of dealing with questions which they might difficult to answers. Art therapy enables PwD to express themselves through non-verbal communication. Art encourages creativity and a sense of pride for success in work.
This activity can be helpful to promote self-esteem as it gives to persons with dementia the opportunity for meaningful exchanges, both with family members / informal carers and with peers when implemented in group settings. Also, it gives PwD an opportunity to talk about their life history and interests to help bring out different parts of their personality, thus supporting in him/her identity and sense of self.