Dementia-Focused Art Program to Open Permanent Gallery at Ohio Living Lake Vista
Posted on August 15, 2023 in
Opening Minds through Art (OMA) has been a staple of Ohio Living Lake Vista’s community programming for three years. The evidence-based, intergenerational art-making program for people living with dementia encourages participants to rely on imagination instead of memory and focus on their remaining strengths instead of lost skills.
“We offer the program weekly, on a semester basis, and ten of our long-term care residents participate regularly,” said Danielle Olson, certified dementia practitioner and director of activities at Ohio Living Lake Vista. “OMA projects evolve throughout the semester, but they offer a lot of autonomy and freedom of choice for our resident artists. Everyone receives the same materials, but each person can choose their desired medium, colors, approach, and so forth.”
Seed money, as well as ongoing discretionary funds from the Ohio Living Foundation helped to kick off the OMA program, which is now self-sustaining. Last fall, more than 90 art pieces from the program were featured in the Medici Art Museum’s “Building Bridges Across Age” exhibit.
Each OMA semester culminates with an art show, where family members, caregivers and friends are invited to see their loved one’s progress. “Participating in a public art show gives our residents a renewed sense of purpose and meaning,” added Olson.
Later this fall, a permanent gallery will be installed on Ohio Living Lake Vista’s campus to showcase the latest OMA pieces. Artwork can also be viewed and purchased via an online gallery, BetterWorld.org. All profits from the art sales are reinvested back into the program.
