Opening Minds through Art

Summary

Opening Minds through Art (OMA) 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.

Challenge

Cedar Village, an Older Adults community located just outside Cincinnati, Ohio, houses over 280 elders in our independent and assisted living apartments and the long term care units of our Skilled Nursing Center.

Cedar Village’s mission is to provide a community of services and support to adults and their families through all stages of aging guided by the Jewish values of compassion, caring and respect.

Solution

Each semester, several 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.

Long-Term Impact

Not only does Opening Minds through Art enhance the quality of life for all residents because the art is proudly displayed in our hallways, we know that when individuals are engaged and stimulated, they function at a higher level, their health is improved and their lives are more rewarding.

“I feel that they are creative, intelligent and capable of anything!  My OMA experience has changed my interest in older adults into a passion.”  – Student Volunteer

“If I did any more, it would be a masterpiece.” – OMA artist

“Oh, I am so happy.  I had no idea I could do this.” – OMA artist

Opening Minds through Art (OMA) is an art program for individuals struggling with dementia. Participation in OMA promotes social engagement, autonomy, and dignity of these individuals through creative self-expression. Cedar Village strives to enhance the quality of life for our residents and works in partnership with the Scripps Gerontology School at Miami University to enroll as many residents as possible in OMA each semester. Trained volunteers work with residents in a variety of mediums, including watercolors, ink, and pastels.

OMA is founded on the fact that people with dementia are capable of expressing themselves creatively and is grounded in person centered ethics to build bridges across age and cognitive barriers through art. OMA is implemented through partnering each resident with a trained volunteer or staff member. Working on a one-to-one basis with the residents, a close relationship develops between the two partners. At the end of each semester a gallery exhibition is held with the artists, partners, and families to celebrate their accomplishments while education the public about the creative capacities of people with dementia through artwork.

OMA received a Best Practices Award from LeadingAge Ohio (2011); was recognized as a Program of Distinction by Generations United (2015); and is listed as a Quality Improvement Project by Ohio Department of Aging (2015).

Your donation will help purchase art supplies for our talented artists.