A Personal Journey
For Emma Hutchin, Drawing and Talking Practitioner, her journey into working with older adults began with a deep personal connection — her Nan, Doris.
“I’d always had a close relationship with my Nan. She was fiercely independent, opinionated, and full of life,” Emma recalls.
When Doris was diagnosed with dementia, Emma became her carer. Between teaching in a busy primary school and raising her family, she found herself balancing practical help with emotional care — holding her Nan’s hand, watching films together, and listening to stories from her childhood.
But as her Nan’s dementia progressed, caring for her became harder. Eventually, the time came for Doris to move into a care home — a heartbreaking but necessary decision.
That experience stayed with Emma. She wanted to find a way to help others living with dementia to stay connected — both with themselves and those around them.
Discovering Drawing and Talking
While teaching, Emma saw the impact of a colleague using Drawing and Talking with children.
“It’s not art therapy — it’s a gentle, attachment-based approach that helps people express emotions safely,” she explains.
After completing her practitioner training, Emma began using Drawing and Talking with children. But inspired by her Nan, she decided to extend the approach to older adults and those living with dementia.
She started delivering sessions in care homes and day centres — and soon witnessed the same kind of emotional release and connection she’d seen in schools.
The Six-Week Study
In early 2024, Emma delivered a six-week series of Drawing and Talking sessions across five care homes. Each week, groups of six to eight residents living with dementia met for 30–45 minutes of gentle drawing and storytelling.
At first, some residents were hesitant — saying things like “I can’t draw.” But Emma explained that it wasn’t about artistic skill, but about expression and conversation. As weeks went on, familiarity grew: same time, same room, same facilitator. That predictability brought comfort and safety.
By week three, staff noticed residents forming friendships and seeking each other out between sessions. They would ask about one another’s drawings, remembering stories shared in earlier weeks.
Moments of Connection
Emma recalls one session where a resident drew a train, and another drew the seaside. Together, they laughed and chatted about going on holiday. In another session, a woman living with both Parkinson’s and dementia — initially too shaky to hold a pencil — was gently supported with a wider pencil grip. Over time, her confidence grew; she began to laugh, smile, and talk throughout each session.
By week six, the group had become so secure that Emma found herself saying less. The residents led the conversations, navigating their own creative process.
“There was such a peaceful, calm atmosphere — you could almost touch it,” staff commented.
What Makes It Work
Familiarity and consistency proved essential. Sessions worked best in quiet rooms with minimal distractions, and using coloured card beneath drawing paper helped residents with visual difficulties.
Even small details, like using the same time and space each week, helped residents feel anchored and safe — an essential ingredient in dementia care.
The Deeper Impact
Unlike entertainment-based activities that lift mood temporarily, Drawing and Talking fosters lasting emotional connection.
As Emma explains:
“Nobody’s pain was taken away — that’s not what Drawing and Talking is about. But residents were able to process emotions and become more emotionally regulated.”
Staff also noticed benefits for themselves. Conversations during sessions revealed new insights about residents they thought they already knew, deepening understanding and empathy within the care home community.
A Continuing Mission
Retraining has changed Emma’s life.
“It makes my heart happy,” she says. “You can’t stop dementia progressing, but you can hold on to your bond. Drawing and Talking gives you that chance.”
Today, Emma continues to deliver and promote Drawing and Talking across care settings — helping others rediscover connection through creativity, one drawing at a time.