Opening Minds through Art is an art program for residents with dementia that is aimed at promoting the social engagement, autonomy, and dignity of these individuals through creative self-expression.
Cedar Village is a retirement community located just outside Cincinnati, Ohio. There are 280 elders living on our campus in independent and assisted apartments or the skilled and long term care units of our Health Care Center. Cedar Village's philosophy is to enhance quality of life and one way in which that is done is by offering a wide variety of programs. The beneficiaries are Cedar Village residents with dementia who participate in semester long art classes every Friday morning.
Each semester 10 residents with dementia participate in a weekly art class facilitated by the Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University. Trained volunteers work with residents in a variety of mediums including watercolors, ink and pastels.
Offering Opening Minds through Art enhances the quality of life for residents. When individuals are engaged and stimulated, they function at a higher level, their health is better and their lives are more satisfying.
