November Event (2025)

The first Memory Bridge Student Initiative session provided valuable insights that helped shape the program’s current structure. This event determined the shift from birthday cards to painting to improve cognitive engagement. While the overall experience was positive and residents appeared to enjoy the painting activity, several challenges highlighted areas for improvement.

One of the most significant issues was that the painting designs were too complex. Some residents struggled to follow intricate outlines or make decisions about small details, which occasionally led to confusion or frustration. In the February (2026) event, the activity was simplified by introducing larger shapes, fewer colors, and clearer outlines, allowing residents to engage more confidently and complete their paintings.

Another challenge involved maintaining conversation with residents. Volunteers sometimes found it difficult to keep discussions flowing, particularly when residents were unsure how to respond or needed more time to process questions. Future sessions addressed this by preparing simple conversation prompts, such as asking about favorite colors, past hobbies, or memories related to art.

Volunteers also encountered occasional uncomfortable comments, including remarks related to race or politics. These situations emphasized the importance of maintaining professionalism and gently redirecting the conversation toward neutral topics such as the painting activity or shared interests. It also emphasized the necessity to prepare for uncomfortable or challenging situations beyond this one.

Finally, the session highlighted the need to be better prepared for non-verbal residents. It was a huge oversight on me and my teams part not to reconsider this problem. Some residents communicated primarily through gestures or facial expressions rather than speech. Volunteers learned that demonstrating the activity visually, using gestures, and providing hands-on guidance when appropriate were often more effective than relying solely on verbal instructions.

Moreover, although not necessarily a challenge or mistake, this first session did highlight the need for photos in future events.

Despite these challenges, the first session confirmed that structured creative activities can be highly engaging for memory-care residents. The lessons learned from this event informed adjustments to the program’s design, helping make future sessions more accessible, predictable, and enjoyable for participants.