Village Improv for Alzheimers (VIA)
Bringing joy through creative care to those living with dementia
About VIA Improv
The principle at the center of the VIA program is that there are no wrong answers
Say YES and then all ideas can be celebrated and built upon.
Village Improv for Alzheimer’s (VIA) offers an innovative approach to person-centered dementia care. We use improvised theatre and storytelling to create meaningful activity for people living with dementia. Our core goals are to foster self-expression, agency, recreation, and social engagement. Our approach emphasizes our participants’ in-the-moment strengths and personality rather than their memory. We believe the most important impacts on people living with dementia include improved quality of life and new perspectives from care providers when witnessing the creative potential of these individuals.
Benefits of VIA Improv
for your clients
Everyone has stories inside them. Everyone has some kind of tool for expressing those stories. Everyone has barriers keeping those stories from coming out - some more than others. It is up to us to figure out how to invite the story out and how to listen it into existence
— Anne Basting, Creative care
VIA programs foster self-expression, agency, recreation, and social engagement. Our approach emphasizes our participants’ in-the-moment strengths and personality rather than their memory or recall. We believe the most important impacts of VIA on people living with dementia include improved quality life and new perspectives from care providers when witnessing the creative potential of these individuals.
Our History
In 2015, the VIA program was created by Karen Johnson Diamond and Col Cseke at Verb Theatre in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society of Calgary. Inside Out Theatre adopted VIA in 2016 and it remains a regular part of the Alzheimer’s Society’s Club 36 day program, which we continue to develop with participants and staff. In 2019, we received funding from Alberta Health Services to create a training program for healthcare professionals to run the VIA program at their facilities.
"Improv for Dementia Everything is in the process of being forgotten. But who we are—who we have been in mood, in personality, in character—persists much longer"
-- Jolene Brackey, Creating Moments of JoyCreative and arts-based approaches to care are becoming widely used for persons living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia. We passionately believe that the core values of improvised theatre (Improv) - acceptance and play - are not just beneficial in the context of a VIA programs but can be used in all situations of interaction and care providing for persons living with Dementia. You do not have to be doing Improv activities specifically to benefit from this program. You may find that participating in VIA can aid in day-to-day interaction with a person living with dementia.
Become a VIA Improv Facilitator
If you value the idea of creative expression in the context of care, and have the ability to run a VIA program where you work, we would love to show you how and then give you the reigns! Our training workshop delves into the essence of improvised theatre and facilitating VIA, even if you have no previous experience in improvisation. Following the 2-day training workshop, you will be certified with Inside Out Theatre to facilitate your own VIA programs at your place of work.
Please register below if you are interested and we can send you workshop information.
Have Us Facilitate The VIA Program at Your Facility
Or Try VIA Online.
Our Calgary, AB-based facilitators are always excited to bring VIA to a newgroup. Whether it is a one-time session or an ongoing program, we know your clients will experience the positive impact of VIA from the first minute it begins. We would be happy to discuss your specific needs and vision. Please fill in your information below to contact our coordinators.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions on gatherings, we have also developed an online version of the VIA program. These Zoom-based sessions use many of the same activities we do in person. Our online programs make it possible to connect with your organization and clients practically anywhere!
Please fill out the form below if you are interested in setting up VIA with us and your clients.