SOCIETY

MUNICIPALITIES: 134 PRACTICES


TOPIC:

Initiative

On Line dramatic play for the elderly, members of the 2nd Open Care Center for the Elderly of Agii Anargiri, Municipality of Agii Anargiri-Kamatero

On Line dramatic play for the elderly, members of the 2nd Open Care Center for the Elderly of Agii Anargiri, Municipality of Agii Anargiri-Kamatero
SUBMITTED FROM:

MUNICIPALITY OF AGIOI ANARGYROI - KAMATERO

The Department of Social Services consists of an expanded protection net over our city, that covers the whole of the population through consulting support, social work, prevention and health care projects.

 

Read more: www.agan.gov.gr


Contact

Objective Action

Based on the principle of independence, dignity of the individual and
the recognition of third and fourth age, the objectives of the initiative
are to maintain social relations, to address isolation / alienation due to
the pandemic, to express emotions, to maintain physical, psychological
and mental health and well-being of the members, to develop new skills
and abilities.

 

Target Audience

Members of the B’ Open Care Center for the elderly (OCCE) of Agii
Anargiri, of Municipality of Agii Anargiri - Kamatero.

 

Duration

In the 2nd Open Care Center for the Elderly (OCCE) the online dramatic
play is applied from March 2020 to this day.


Description

The Open Care Centers for the Elderly (OCCE) are State structures since
1979 and provide primary social and nursing care by specialized
personnel to the elderly, at a Community level. Intending to maintain
physical, psychological and mental health, they implement actions,
programs, practices aiming at healthy and active aging. An action of the
B’ Open Care Center for the Elderly (OCCE) of Agioi Anargyroi which
promotes these specific goals, is that of Dramatic play. Dramatic play is
an experiential, innovative, groundbreaking action for the elderly. It was
designed and developed in 2015 and is implemented to this day. The
Dramatic play is "...a playful and experiential process ...that encourages
spontaneous and free expression and the real, active involvement of
participants in the game of imagination in the group..., where all
participate as actors in immediate, creative events and shows full of
surprise". (Papadopoulos, S. 2010, Theater Pedagogy). And yet, "it is the
initiation into the existential event and the meaning of life and relationships through theater, where individuals do not strike and do
not score, but have the opportunity to feel, see themselves and the
world, to represent it, to recreate it, to compose it, to classify it and to
interpret it anew...". (Kouretzis, L. 2008, Dramatic Play and its
Dimensions).
Responding to the challenges of the pandemic, live dramatic play is
converted, transformed, and turned into an online experiential dramatic
play. It aims to address social exclusion, maintain social relations
between the members of the B’ Open Care Center for the Elderly
(OCCE), reduce the psychosocial impact due to the pandemic, remove
apathy and reduced functionality, maintain and strengthen cognitive,
motor, and mental functions, maintain self-confidence and self-esteem,
highlight new skills of the members. Dramatic play focuses on human
relationships. Allows members to express their psycho-emotional world
within the group freely and spontaneously, to reveal what concerns
them and thus to come closer. During live dramatic play, the members
enter a properly formed environment with a variety of stimuli. These
stimuli are the precursor of action. Objects, colors, smells, images,
words, expressions, movements, postures, dreams, desires, needs, are
all mobilized and expressed through various techniques, associations,
and symbols. The use of various modes of expression (theatrical, visual,
verbal, sensuous, musical, dancing) encourages individual intelligence,
offering immediate satisfaction to the participants. It works outside the
established framework and allows members to "capture" the world
through their senses and be moved by recognizing the beauty of
simplicity.
The era of the pandemic brought a "pause" of all groups in the B’ Open
Care Center for the Elderly (OCCE), hence the “pause” of this particular
group. With clear lack of contact of the members with the familiar space
of the B’ Open Care Center for the Elderly (OCCE), as well as the lack of
everything the members in the group experienced psychosomatically
(physical contact, physical and verbal expression of emotions,
movement, free and improvised theatrical expression – individual or
group -) the action of the live dramatic play, transformed and turned
into an online form. To accomplish this action, the members come into
contact with digital technology and acquire or improve their skills in it.
They invest their time in learning about new forms of technology while
practicing Lifelong Learning. This innovative initiative of dramatic play, offers the opportunity to members, to maintain communication and
contact with each other. To interact, to express themselves verbally,
physically, to unfold their imagination playing rols, to cooperate, to
create the environment in which they will move using various objects
(fabrics, candls, hats, pebbles, etc) in their home. Thus, as part of the
tasks assigned to them, members create texts and stories, using a
variety of vocabulary, create poetic speech and drawings. Bring, present
and share with the team, music and videos, seek inspiration. In this way
they achieve physical, psychological, and mental well-being.


more...

Impact on Society

In the online dramatic play, in 2020-2021, 65 meetings were held and
248 people participated.
The effect of the unprecedented application of the action of the online
dramatic play had the following effects on the members of the B’ Open
Care Center for the Elderly (OCCE) of Agioi Anargyroi:
tackling social isolation due to the pandemic
continuation of communication with new media (digital
technology)
maintenance psycho-emotional, psychomotor and psychosocial
health
mobilization and solidarity by younger adult members of the family
environment to the members for reinforcement learning-education
of a computer, a tablet, a new type of mobile phone and social
networks (Facebook, messenger, viber)
interaction in a new way (through the screen)
free expression of emotions
cultivation and maintenance of a sense of safety and confidence in
the team
maintain a sense of "belonging" *strengthening speech capacity
strengthening creative expression capacity
strengthening memory
development of cooperation between members for the completion
of group work in a different way (video call, via messages on social
media)
searching information via electronic search engines (google)
development of management skills of modern social problems
(pandemic, isolation) via role withdrawal
preparation, processing, project presentation (creative addition to
the formal everyday life)
enhancement of self-confidence and self-esteem
developing imagination.
Also, the online dramatic play functioned as a means of communication
and co-creation between generations (grandmother-grandchildren)
with the creation of visual art works, environmental configuration when
the meeting took place from the grandchildren’s house during their
custody by the members. The members saw the opportunity, the
challenge presented amid a pandemic and by participating in this group,
they maintain their vitality and positive attitude towards life. The
important role of the online experiential dramatic play, amid a
pandemic, is reflected in the words of the participants:
M.P. "My mind escapes the problems of everyday life when we are
assigned a task. I rejoice when I create something."
S.S. "I look forward to our next meeting."
A.K. "I get the strength that we all need. I feel hopeful."
M.P. "We learn, we improve"
F.K. "I feel lighter today. Every time we meet, we take off. We leave
the daily routine and take courage to continue".
Th.T. "What I feel is a" touch in my soul."
B.M. "I'm glad we're here, even under these circumstances."
M.P. "I feel that our bonds are strengthened more and more, each
time we meet. We connect in many ways. Socially, friendly,
psychologically. We complete each other."
A.P. "If we were together every day, it would be the best."
D.S. "I was glad to see you again, even online. I felt calm. Let us be
patient."
S.P. "I was looking at my diary until the day of our meeting arrived,
until we met again! I leave with the joy of communication. I miss
communication.”
D.S. "After the “take-off”, the “landing” came and brought us joy,
beauty, tranquility, and love".



Initiative Location

The online experiential dramatic play is coordinated from the B’ Open
Care Center for the Elderly (OCCE) of Agioi Anargyroi and the members
are connected from their homes or the homes of their grandchildren,
when they look after them.


More...…

Working with Organization

  • University of West Attica-School of Health and Welfare Sciences-Occupational Therapy Department
  • Volunteers of B’ Open Care Center for the Elderly (OCCE) of Agii Anargiri
  • Volunteers of the local community
  • Sponsors

More...…

Workers Participation

In this action participate the employees of B’ Open Care Center for the
Elderly (OCCE) of Agioi Anargyroi, the families of members, studens of
the Department Occupational Therapy of University of West Attica and
Volunteers who provide assistance in the performances of the dramatic
play group: scenographer, audio engineer, dance teacher, musician,
costume designer, aiming at the best appearance of the group.


More...…
Photos

Benefits for Οrganization

Through the initiative "Online dramatic play for the elderly, Members
of the B' Open Care Center for the Elderly (OCCE) of Agioi Anargyroi" of
Municipality of Agioi Anargyroi – Kamatero is achieved:
Helthy and active aging of this population
Members through their active participation in this group managed
to maintain a positive attitude towards life in difficult times and be
supportive to their children in a variety of ways (eg babysitting,
cooking, etc)
Such actions ensure of social cohesion and the prosperity of the
community
In addition, the mobilization of both members and volunteers is
strengthened. As a result new channels of communication and
cooperation are developed between the B’ Open Center for the
Elderly (OCCE) and the community.




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