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Opening Minds Through Art (OMA) is an award-winning national program developed for those who are living with dementia and other cognitive concerns. It is founded on the fact that people living with dementia are capable of creatively expressing themselves.
OMA pairs people with volunteers who are trained to rely on imagination instead of memory and to focus on remaining strengths instead of lost skills. There is a growing body of evidence that shows that creative expression improves the physical and psychological well-being of people with cognitive challenges.
VPAS and Maury River Senior Services are bringing OMA to the Rockbridge community in June. The four-session program will be held in the RARA Community Room on June 15, 22, 29 and July 6 from 2 to 3 p.m. All skill levels are welcome and all materials are provided.
The success of OMA relies on volunteers who are trained to assist participants in creating beautiful and expressive art. Volunteers could include caregivers or family members of participants as well as members of the community who appreciate artistic expression using planned and guided lessons.
Training for volunteers will be held at the RARA Community Room on Thursday, June 8, from 2 to 4 p.m. Volunteers will each be paired with the same participant for all four sessions.
Available spaces for OMA are limited, and preregistration is required. To register as a participant, go to https://www.vpas. info/civicrm/event/info?id=914 or call MRSS at 540-261-7474.
To register as an OMA volunteer, go to https://www.vpas.info/ civicrm/event/info?id=913 or call MRSS at 540-261-7474. The number of participants who can participate will depend on the number of trained volunteers, so early registration of volunteers is highly encouraged.
Editor’s note: Jeri Schaff is the director of Valley Program for Aging Services.
