It's been years since actress Arlene Francis has performed on stage or screen, but, as she turns 90 on Monday, she continues to express her abundant creativity through art -- no small feat for a person with Alzheimer's Disease.

Known for her work in film, on Broadway, and as a longtime panelist on TV's "What's My Line," the vivacious actress worked on a New York radio interview show as recently as 1990. For the past 11 years, however, Francis has also battled Alzheimer's and is now in advanced stages of the disease. Through it all, she has found the courage to create through Artworks, a program of the UCSF-affiliated Goldman Institute on Aging, which brings professional artists together with older homebound adults in an effort to keep them contributing to their community.

Despite the fact that the disease has almost totally taken away her ability to speak, Francis continues to paint. In working with elderly homebound people and those in adult day-care centers, Artworks artists do not focus on the student's illness or approach the work as therapy.

"Our artists attempt to transcend the barriers that result from age, cultural differences, language and health," said Jeff Chapline, MFA, program director of Artworks. Artworks' mission is to keep elders connected and contributing to their community by teaming them with professional, visual and performing artists and involving them in cross-generational programs, according to Chapline.

For the past three years, Francis has worked with artist Nadine Gay, creating a large body of lively work in watercolors, pastels, collage and fabric. "The creative process has helped Ms. Francis to stay focused in the present and has opened for her a new avenue of expression," Gay said. "Her work illustrates her love of life and her spirited nature."

Peter Gabel, 50, has had both the anguish of watching his mother move into advanced stages of Alzheimer's and the joy of seeing how art has helped her maintain function. "Apart from the love of those around her, no factor has played a more important role in her spiritual improvement than the work she had done with artist Nadine Gay through the Artworks project," he said.

The president of New College of California, Gabel has since encouraged Gay to teach an undergraduate course at the college for those interested in working with elders suffering from Alzheimer's.

Artworks is one of 16 programs of the Goldman Institute on Aging (IOA), an affiliation of UCSF. The Artworks program provides workshop, instruction and performance opportunities for more than 500 older adults annually who are either homebound or attend one of 11 Adult Day Health Centers or residential homes in San Francisco. Funded by the California Arts Council, the program was started in 1978.

In recognition of the program, An Arlene Francis Fund has been established which will provide Artworks services for groups and individuals with Alzheimer's Disease and related illnesses. Donations in honor of Arlene Francis can be sent to Artworks, Goldman Institute on Aging, 3330 Geary Blvd., 2nd Floor East, San Francisco, CA 94118.

By Dale Martin

1st appeared 10/17/97

RETURN TO TOP