About This Project
Building genuine connections through art-making for people living with dementia.
The goal of Opening Minds Through Art (OMA) is to help build a society that values all individuals, including older adults living with dementia. This is achieved by fostering genuine friendships between people living with dementia and volunteers through art-making activities. Founded in 2007 at the Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University, OMA is an award-winning, evidence-based, intergenerational art-making program. People living with dementia (artists) are paired with volunteers (students, families, caregivers) who are trained to focus on imagination rather than memory, emphasizing remaining strengths instead of lost skills. Through this process, individuals with dementia assume new roles as artists and teachers, leaving behind a legacy of beautiful artwork. OMA has been widely replicated across the country and continues to have a significant impact on improving the lives of both individuals living with dementia and the volunteers they interact with.
Aims
AIM 1: Build genuine, supportive relationships between people living with dementia and volunteers through art-making.
AIM 2: Empower individuals with dementia to assume new roles as artists and teachers, preserving their dignity and legacy through creative expression.
AIM 3: Foster an intergenerational connection between different age groups, bridging cognitive and generational barriers.
Dates
OMA was founded in 2007 and continues to operate. During 2020, virtual programming began and led to the launch of ScrippsAVID in 2023.
Funder
This project is funded and supported by external sources. Recent funding includes RRF Foundation for Aging, Arthur N. Rupe Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, and the Ohio Department of Medicaid. the Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University.
Acknowledgements:
Special thanks to Dr. Elizabeth “Like” Lokon, the founder of OMA, and the Scripps Gerontology Center team for their continuous efforts in the development and expansion of this program. Additionally, recognition is given to the numerous volunteers and participants whose contributions make this program a success.
Project Personnel
Reports and Publications
Journal Article
Using Art and Technology to Reduce Loneliness and Bridge the Age Divide: A Qualitative Study
2024
Lokon, E., Mehrotra, V., Murali, S., & Oakman, R.
Journal Article
Transformative Power of Participating in Opening Minds through Art (OMA), an Expressive Arts Program for Medical Students
2023
Dellasega, C., George, D. R., & Lokon, E.
Journal Article
“Opening Minds through Art”: Participation in a Nursing Home-Based Expressive Arts Program to Improve Medical Students’ Attitudes Towards Persons Living with Dementia
2021
George, D., Lokon, E., Li, Y., & Dellasega, C.
Journal Article
Building Bridges in the Community through OMA, an Intergenerational Abstract Art Program for People Living with Dementia
2021
Danker, S., Lokon, E. Pax, C.
Journal Article
Opening Minds through Art: A Preliminary Study Evaluating the Effects of a Creative-Expression Program on Persons Living with Dementia and Their Primary Care Partners
2021
Levenberg, K., George, D. R., and Lokon, E. (2021).
Journal Article
The impact of a Gerontology Course and a Service Learning Program on College Student’s Attitudes toward People with Dementia
2011
Yamashita, T., Kinney, J.M., Lokon, E.
Journal Article
Building Bridges across Age and Cognitive Barriers through Art: College Students’ Reflections on an Intergenerational Program with Elders who Have Dementia
2012
Lokon, E., Kinney, J. M., & Kunkel, S.
Journal Article
“It makes me feel like myself”: Person-centered versus traditional visual arts activities for people with dementia
2016
Sauer, P. E., Fopma-Loy, J., Kinney, J. M., & Lokon, E.
Journal Article
Allophilia: Increasing college students’ “liking” of older adults with dementia through arts-based service learning experience
2018
Lokon, E., Li, Y. & Kunkel, S.
Journal Article
Using art in an intergenerational program to improve students’ attitudes toward people with dementia
2017
Lokon, E., Li, Y., & Parajuli, J.
Journal Article
Activities in dementia care: A comparative assessment of activity types
2016
Lokon, E., Sauer, P.E., & Li, Y.
Resources
Curricular Connections
OMA and ScrippsAVID integrate key concepts in gerontology, art therapy, and intergenerational studies. These programs align with educational frameworks in aging services, healthcare, and community engagement, offering practical, hands-on experience for students and professionals in these fields.
Reports and Publications
- All research can be found here: https://scrippsoma.org/research/
- OMA and Intergenerational Art-Making
Authors: Dr. Elizabeth “Like” Lokon, Dr. Suzanne R. Kunkel
Topics: Intergenerational programs, dementia care, art therapy - ScrippsAVID: Virtual Connections Across Generations
Authors: Dr. Elizabeth “Like” Lokon, Dr. Suzanne R. Kunkel
Topics: Virtual caregiving, intergenerational engagement, mental health in aging populations
Other Dissemination Outlets
- Podcasts on dementia care and intergenerational art-making
- Webinars and online workshops for healthcare providers and caregivers
- Press releases highlighting OMA’s impact on dementia care and intergenerational relationships
- Social media campaigns featuring OMA artwork and participant testimonials
Social Media
Facebook:
Instagram:
YouTube:
LinkedIn:
Project Home Page Content
Opening Minds Through Art (OMA) is an evidence-based, intergenerational art-making program for people living with dementia. Since its founding in 2007, OMA has created meaningful connections between volunteers and older adults living with dementia. OMA has been widely replicated across the country and continues to improve the quality of life for individuals living with dementia by allowing them to create beautiful works of art.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ScrippsAVID (Arts-based, Virtual, Intergenerational Discovery) was developed to connect older and younger adults via video chat to share art, music, poetry, and stories, furthering the mission of OMA in the virtual world.
Commercial Products
- OMA Art Kits
Description: Art kits designed to engage people with dementia in creative expression, available for purchase for use in homes, caregiving settings, and healthcare facilities.
Intended Audience: Caregivers, healthcare professionals, organizations supporting individuals with dementia
Value: Empowers caregivers and healthcare professionals to facilitate meaningful creative activities for people living with dementia. - OMA Training Program
Description: A training program for volunteers and caregivers to learn how to facilitate art-making sessions with individuals living with dementia.
Intended Audience: Volunteers, caregivers, art therapists, healthcare providers
Value: Provides a structured training model that can be implemented in various caregiving environments, promoting dignity and creativity for individuals with dementia. - ScrippsAVID Virtual Art Program
Description: A virtual platform that connects people across generations for creative art-making activities, designed to reduce loneliness and foster intergenerational friendships.
Intended Audience: Individuals of all ages, caregivers, educators
Value: Provides a simple, accessible way for people of different generations to connect and create, reducing isolation while enhancing social engagement.
Social Policy Implications
Both OMA and ScrippsAVID support social policy decisions related to dementia care, intergenerational engagement, and the importance of arts in healthcare. These programs advocate for the integration of creative activities in long-term care settings and policy reforms that address social isolation among older adults.
Advocacy Campaigns
These programs advocate for policies that encourage creative engagement in dementia care settings and intergenerational programs that improve the quality of life for older adults. They aim to raise awareness about the benefits of such programs for reducing isolation and enhancing well-being.
Education and Training Materials
OMA provides training resources and materials for caregivers, volunteers, and healthcare professionals. These resources support the development of skills needed to facilitate art-making and creative activities for people living with dementia, offering both in-person and virtual training modules.
Cross-Sector Collaborations
OMA and ScrippsAVID foster cross-sector collaborations between healthcare providers, community organizations, and educational institutions. These partnerships aim to enhance the impact of creative programs for dementia care and promote intergenerational engagement.
Non-Profit or Governmental Partnerships
OMA and ScrippsAVID seek partnerships with non-profit organizations, government agencies, and community centers to expand the reach and impact of these programs. Collaborative efforts ensure that these programs benefit as many individuals as possible across Ohio and beyond.
Innovation and Best Practices
OMA and ScrippsAVID introduce innovative models for engaging individuals with dementia in creative expression and connecting generations. These programs are models for best practices in dementia care, arts therapy, and community engagement.
References
Any references or cited works can go here.
