La Doris "Sam" Heinly earned a B.A. degree in Art History from California State University Fullerton and continued her studies at California State University Long Beach where she received a Masters degree in Social Work. La Doris experience includes using art as an activity for communications at geriatric hospitals, adult day care and residential care facilities.

Since 1998, La Doris has contracted with the Alzheimer’s Association, Orange County, California, using the methods contained in this book, for the purpose of training art facilitators in the “Memories in the Making®” program.

La Doris has refined, documented and formalized training techniques for the purpose of replicating this program in many locations with the goal of improving the quality of life for persons living with all stages of Alzheimer’s dementia.

In La Doris' words: “The therapeutic value of art has led me to search for a practical application. Specifically it is my interest to apply the creative process with individuals experiencing minimal communication abilities, often as the result of illness. It is my observation that individuals who are given a way of expressing their feelings experience less anxiety and greater peace of mind.”

 contact La Doris "sam" Heinly by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it