News
Bahiana holds an exhibition "A little of each", at the Academic Unit Brotas
Show brings together artistic activities of the elderly and mental health groups of the Occupational Therapy Service of the Bahiana (SerTO).
16/06/2017
“I have three years at SerTO and I love what I do. It's a therapy where we come together for the sake of art. God placed these people in our lives, including all the professionals who help us. Despite my visual problem in the retina – I underwent four surgeries -, I still do my crafts and cross stitch. It is an immense satisfaction to exhibit and market our work here at Bahiana”. The report is by Clarisse de Brito, 85, a patient at the Occupational Therapy Service at Bahiana (SerTO) and one of the exhibitors of the exhibition “A little of each”, held on June 1, at the Academic Unit’s Classroom Pavilion Brotas da Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública. The event brought together elderly women from SerTO around a proposal for a solidarity economy. The sale of handicrafts produced was reverted to the benefit of the patients themselves.
According to SerTO's occupational therapist and specialist in elderly health, Ana Paula Braga, the exhibition brings together the production of a semester. “We work with some crafts and pieces that are made by the elderly, who are always bringing new ideas to group meetings. In the work that we develop in the groups, there is a constant exchange of skills.”
For Valdira Alves, 71, being part of this group is therapeutic and restorative. “It's a natural mental hygiene, as producing our own art alongside the wonderful friends we've made here at SerTO is very good. It is a day of exchange of ideas where one helps the other”.
Coordinator of SerTO, occupational therapist Sofia Campos emphasizes the importance of this activity, noting that patients experience greater socialization and, therefore, an increase in self-esteem as well. “They find the service a reference and have the opportunity to expand their financial and personal autonomy. It is a job that is growing and the return of patients and families is significant. We see improvements in both the operational functions and the cognitive activities of the elderly.”
Check out the photos.