Positive Results of
MnemeTherapy

TM
In addition to the patient experiencing the joys of creative accomplishment, we have documented testimonies based on observations before and after the session and signed by professionals and caregivers. These observations of improvements are after one, 30 minute session of MnemeTherapy.

Improvements include changes in verbal skills, spatial acuity, combativeness, mobility, outlook, depression, and interest in activities. To date, in each case, the positive changes were permanent and lasted until the patient's death.

If you have a testimony to share, there's a place at the bottom of the page.
October 2003
"Miss Mary"  Aiken SC
Reporting:  RN, Director of Programming
Pre-session description:
"Mary was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Before painting with the MnemeTherapist, she was angry and depressed. She seldom came out of her room, did not interact with other residents, did not participate in activities, did not eat well."
Post-session description:
"Mary seemed to 'wake up'. She started to come out of her room
for most of the day, interact with other residents, eat better, gain weight,
take more interest in her ADLs and had an insatiable desire to color and paint.
This lasted until her death (nearly a year later)."
July 2005
Male, Adult Day Center, Florida
Person Reporting: Program Nurse
Pre-session:
"A former business man, our patient spent all of his time sitting alone at one of the tables, briefcase open, shuffling papers around. He was demanding of the staff, continually asking for a meeting with them. He had very little interaction with the other patients and didn't willingly participate in actvities."
Post-session:
"At the end of the session, he was smiling and after his painting was shown to the group, sat down in the circle of chairs and participated in a game. Since that time and until his death, Irving willingly participated in group activities, visited with other patients and ceased "working" alone at the table. He was more content and smiled more often."
Pictures used by permission
The Gift of the Muse
"On Location" by Irving
November, 2005
Female, Adult Day Center, Florida
Person Reporting:Director of Adult Day Healthcare
Pre-session:
Our patient was unresponsive and generally spoke in disjointed one word sentences. The best way to describe her was 'disconnected.' She did not make eye-contact or appear to recognize faces. She was apprehensive and had poor spatial acuity, often bumping into things in her path. She could not follow, or understand verbal instructions and did not participate in activities. "
Post-session:
"At the end of the session, she was actually smiling, singing and dancing. She made eye contact and appeared to recognize faces. She was able to follow a complex set of instructions. She smiled and interacted with her peer group during "presentation" (of her work). The next day she recognized me from across the room and came over, manuevering around a table and wanted to dance. At the end of our dance she said, "I danced myself out of my shoes!" Everyone has seen a huge difference in her. She is speaking in complete sentences with appropriate comments and seems much happier and more aware of her surroundings."
Art Without Boundaries
Home Office: 561-967-6103
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Read other comments about
our program.
"Let it Snow! by Manny
November, 2005
Female, Adult Day Center, Florida
Person Reporting: Manager
Pre-session:
"Our patient did not respond to verbal requests such as stand up, sit down, take this. We had to feed her and assist with toileting. It generally took two aides to help with toileting, as she would become frightened and fight the person trying to help. It took some time to get her to stand up and come to the painting table. She had to be physically cued and the same was true when it came to painting, she didn't reach for the brush and Noell had to work with her for a time to even hold the brush."
Post-session:
"At the end of the session, we were amazed when asked once, she quickly got out of her chair without any physical cueing. She was very pleased with her painting, but the real surprise came when the aide took her to the restroom, she cooperated completely, even assisting with her own clothes. The aide kept crying, 'it's a miracle!' At snack time we were further amazed when she fed herself."
Do you have a story to report as a result of an MT session?
Please include your name, position, (or relationship with the patient) and e-mail address or phone number.
By checking this box, you've indicated it's OK to use your story on this page. Only first names will be used. Thanks!
Full, signed  reports are on file at AWBF

Verbal skills increased

Reported by wife: Male patient in Adult Day Center (ADC).
Prior to session, patient had visited numerous doctors and speech therapists with the same diagnosis: he will never speak again. After one MT session he was able to count to 10 and tell his wife he loved her.

Documented by Activity Director, female stroke victim (ADC).
Prior to session, patient responded verbally to all questions with "yes." Post session patient could clearly say her name and "I want you."

Documented by Administrator, (ADC)
Male stroke victim did not speak prior to session. Post session he could say "I love you" and his wife's name. He also showed a change of expression, which he didn't before.

Documented by RN  (ADC)
Male patient was unable to answer questions. His answers were vague and rambling. He ws unable to count past two. After session he could answer questions such as where he was born and his wife's name. He was easily able to count to 10. He showed much more expression in his face and made direct eye contact

Documented by Activity Director- (ADC)
Male patient speech was disorganized and rambling. He could not respond to a question. After session he could respond correctly to questions about his life and his wife's name.

Mobility  Increased, stiffness decreased

Documented by Activity Director in ADC
Prior to session patient took very slow, shuffling steps. It took a long time to get him anywhere. After the session, he walked with longer strides, picking up his feet and moving much more quickly. He also seemed to stand up much straighter. He was very pleased by this.

Documented by Activity Director in Nursing facility
Prior to session, Male patient moved very slowly with a walker. He drug his feet and inched along. After the session he moved much more quickly and took longer strides, picking up his feet more.

Documented by Administrator, ADC
Male patient diagnosed with Lewy Body Disease was very rigid. Arms and legs did not bend easily, arms were drawn up to his chest and he was twisted to the side. His speech was garbled. After a 30 minute session he had full range of movement in arms and legs and said a complete, clear sentence to his wife.

Documented by Administrator, ADC
Male stroke victim's arm had little mobility and jerked violently when he tried to extend or used it. After session, he was able to extend it fully and move it smoothly without jerking. He also regained use of his hand.

Spatial acuity increased

Documented by Manager, ADC
When patient began session, she seemed disconnected to her environment. There was no eye contact, she did not respond to verbal instructions or visual stimuli and did not show any type of emotion on her face. After one 30 minute session, she responded correctly to verbal instruction, made eye contact, was able to find and grasp something presented to her, seemed to enjoy the painting experience, showed expression on her face and even comprehended and laughed at a joke.

Documented by RN (ADC)
Male patient who received spoon feeding was do anything for himself. He was unable to communicate or respond to instructions.  After session, he could respond to instructions, grasp the brush when presented, respond verbally and sing.

Combativeness decreased

"Something's happening here: Dementia patients make connections through art"
Reporter: Jennifer Jones, Anderson Independent-Mail, Anderson SC
February 25, 2006

Angela Childers, a resident care tech at Riverside Living Center, usually had a difficult time with one of the residents. The woman was very combative, hitting and biting those trying to dress her or bathe her. After a session with Ms. Hammer, however, something in the woman seemed to change.
"I thought she was a different patient. It was like night and day. She’s had a wonderful, wonderful day. I wouldn’t have believed it had I not seen it," Ms. Childers said. "She’s happy and she’s told me she loves me, I’ll bet six times today."
Carla Heritage, executive director of the Riverside Living Center, said there are no words to describe the differences she’s seen in the residents.
"I just wish everyone could see this. The families are just amazed." she said.

You can download the whole article:
Decrease in combativeness
Increase in spatial acuity
Increased interest in activities
TM
Anderson Independent Mail
Anderson Independent Mail
AWB strives to protect the privacy of our clients. Photos and first names have been used with permission
A message from Founder, Noell Hammer:
All reported testimonies are signed documents based on observation of patients before and after a 30 minute session of MnemeTherapy and are on file in my office. I do not make any claims that this process is a cure for any disease, nor do we see dramatic results with each and every patient. Since no scientific studies have been done on this process, I can only present theories as to why this works and what it's doing inside the patient's brain. Every so often I receive another scientific article in my mailbox that supports the theories I've been using and I look forward to the day when the scientific world will acknowledge that an artist accidentally stumbled onto something significant. I'm not holding my breath. In the meantime, when someone who just 30 minutes before was walking around like a ghost and is now looking me in the eye and smiling, that's enough accolades for me.
First Autistic student Improvements reported by parents:

You can read about Cara and other Autistic students in the the weekly e-journal by clicking here
By 6 year autistic boy
Permission to use story