Why Creativity Matters in Dementia Care
- amycourtspooner
- Sep 18
- 2 min read
Emma Bottomley hosts a Filo group in her home in Somerton. After twenty years in graphic design, she retrained as a Creative Arts Facilitator and began hosting with The Filo Project this summer.
“The commercial world of design wasn’t giving me the people-facing element I craved for. I came across The Filo Project while I was researching local dementia care as part of my Creative Arts Therapy course. I knew as soon as I read about them, I had to be a part of it."
Creativity is central to Emma’s Filo days, often drawing inspiration from conversations and memories shared by the group.
“As a Creative Arts Facilitator myself, I know how important it is to incorporate creativity into a Filo day. Recently, my group took part in some sand play. There are a few reasons why I chose this activity:
Sensory stimulation - The texture of sand engages touch, which can awaken senses and encourage presence in the moment.
Calming effect - Handling sand has a soothing, grounding quality that can reduce agitation and anxiety.
Encourages expression - Clients can create shapes, patterns, or scenes in the sand, providing a non-verbal way to express emotions and thoughts.
Memory recall - Sand play can trigger memories of childhood, beaches, holidays, or gardens, sparking conversation.
Promotes fine motor skills - Moving, pouring, or shaping sand helps maintain dexterity and hand–eye coordination.
Sense of control and choice - The open-ended nature of sand therapy gives clients freedom to decide what to create, fostering independence.
Joy and playfulness - Engaging with sand can evoke a childlike sense of curiosity and fun, lifting mood.”
The session soon filled with reminiscence. “The sand provoked all sorts of memories and conversation around the beach, fairground rides, sticks of rock, and paddling in the sea.”
The seaside theme continued into the afternoon, with sea-inspired painting. “My group members enjoyed pushing the paint around, as it’s all about the process and not the perfection. They were completely absorbed in thinking of what the sea looked like. We added some simple shapes to make sailboats. This provoked memories of being at sea for one of my clients.”
Emma believes these creative moments make a real difference. “I think creativity is important in dementia care because it gives people the chance to be part of something collaborative, and it offers them a way of expressing themselves when words are not always easy to find. It gives them a way of expressing individuality and uniqueness, even though dementia may be progressing. It truly gives them a sense of purpose.”
Reflecting on her role, Emma says: “I enjoy the feeling of knowing that their day has been different to the day they would have spent either on their own, or watching TV to pass the time. This is such a fulfilling role and brings huge value to other people.”
“I would say, if you are looking for something meaningful, you want a people-facing role, you enjoy engaging with others, and want to work in something that brings value to others, then Filo would be the answer.”
