Stitching together stories and memories from people with Alzheimer's

There is a quilt hanging in the foyer room at Senior Access' adult day center in San Rafael. 

It's warm, mocha-colored background contrasts with the intensely colored images sprinkled across the center of the piece.  As you look more closely, the images take form--pianos, a motorcycle, a glass of wine, a tennis racket, a dog. 

The images aren't random.  Instead, they are specific stories from someone's past--stitched onto a square that has been joined to several others to form this quilt of shared stories.  They are images of a life, preserved.

What makes it so special?

The stories and memories represented in this quilt just happen to be from individuals who have Alzheimer's. 

The quilt was the project of the Mt. Tam Quilt Guild, a non-profit organization in Marin.  Besides creating works of art, the Guild make quilts for community members in need, including Senior Access participants (shown at right), most of whom have Alzheimer's.

The idea for this particular 'memory' quilt came from Senior Access Executive Director Cris Chater, who then shared that idea with guild mover and shaker, Sydne Bartel.  Sydne then pitched the quilt project, "Journeys: Celebrating Who We Are" to other members.  One guild member--Novatan Lynn Allen--jumped at the chance to participate.

For Lynn, the project was particularly special because her mother, Iris McCarthy, is a participant at Senior Access.  Iris has been with Senior Access for about three-and-a-half years.

Surprisingly, though, Lynn didn't didn't wind up stitching her own mom's square.

"I could've easily done one on my mother, but I chose to do someone else," she said, "It was wonderful for me to have one of my colleagues at guild do my mother, because she said 'I had a wonderful visit with your mother.'  You know it was kind of nice that my mother was able to carry on a conversation and share her life with somebody else because when you have Alzheimer's, you don't often get to meet other people and share."

Lynn chose to focus her square on Peter Hebert, someone she had met previously through visits to her mother at the center. 

"When I got to interview him...I realized there was a whole lot more to Peter than just a gentlemen with Alzheimer's.  I found out he's French-Canadian, he loved motorcycles, he's coached ice hockey.  He was a world traveler and an avid photographer.  He was a whole lot more than just an Alzheimer's patient."

Those images--a motorcycle, a Canadian flag, a camera--all found their way onto Peter's square.

We examine the quilt a bit more closely, and then Lynn's mother walks up.  We ask Iris to point out her square which she does, with great enthusiasm.

The patients seem to understand the squares represent them.

Lynn's mom played piano for instance, and her favorite piece was Somewhere Over the Rainbow so there are both a piano and a rainbow in her square.

Sydne picks up a corner of the quilt to show us the dedication on the back which acknowledges the quilters.

Each quilter was assigned one person to feature in a square.  The process involved multiple interviews with that person and others who knew him or her.  Then the quilter designed the square, incorporating important elements of that person's life.  All the squares were then stitched together to create the finished project.

"The project is about the invisibility of these people," Sydne says, "It [the quilt] is showing how important they are."

People in the center wander by, stop at the quilt, point out certain squares.  Sometimes you hear a laugh of recognition from one of the Senior Access participants.

"It actually has been a real blessing to be able to see," says Lynn, "You look at someone's life and add little elements to a square, to a block and you get to know them a little better--a little deeper."

The quilters have done more than just stitched a quilt.  They've stitched together stories, and memories.

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The quilt, "Journeys: Celebrating Who We Are" can be seen at Senior Access' Wilfred George Adult Day Center at 70 Skyview Terrace in San Rafael.  There will be a dedication ceremony on Wednesday, August 19 at 5:00 p.m.  Senior Access is currently the only licensed Adult Day Service agency in Marin, serving the elderly with memory loss.

The quilt project was made possible by a partnership with Pacific Union Real Estate, who regularly contribute resources to Senior Access, and also by the Marin Community Foundation for their support to Senior Access.

The Mt. Tam Quilt Guild members meet once a month. This diverse group of quilters range from novices to experts.  Membership is open to anyone interested in quilting.  Contributions by the Las Gallinas Lions Club helped make this project, and others like it, possible for the Guild.

Comments

[Pat Dicker]

What a lovely article about this very special quilt!

[Rose O'Gorman]

The Adult Day Care participants have been given an open window through which to view and share their life experiences captured through the Artistic Expression encompassed in this exquisite Quilt. The devastation of Memory Loss with Alzheimers seems diminished somewhat - in the dignified artistic expression of the Memories that have resulted in the amazing individuals whose lives are represented . Thank You for sharing this deeply meaningful project.

[Margaret]

Such a wonderful way to cherish and share personal stories and histories....and what a beautiful quilt. The pictures bring the project alive.

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