OPENING MINDS THROUGH ART

Occupational Therapy student doing art therapy with an older adult with Alzheimer's Disease.
Occupational Therapy students doing art therapy with older adults with Alzheimer's Disease.
Occupational Therapy student doing art therapy with an older adult with Alzheimer's Disease.

Laumeier Sculpture Park has a long history of working with older adults, from partnering with the Alzheimer’s Association to our more recent EngAGING Arts program. During the pandemic, we paused to consider how we could better serve these populations. Research brought us to Opening Minds through Art (OMA), a proven program that aligns beautifully with our own resources and objectives. Laumeier is the first sculpture park to become OMA-certified. The development and 2022 launch of OMA at Laumeier was made possible through the Ann & Hank Bauer Fund for Senior Arts Programs.

About the Program

Occupational therapy students setting up for OMA artshow.

OMA is an award-winning, research-based, intergenerational art program for people living with dementia, developed at the Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University, Ohio. OMA is offered in more than 115 sites in the United States and Canada. OMA makes intergenerational partnerships one of the cornerstones of the program by pairing an elder with a volunteer, usually a college student seeking a career in healthcare. The volunteer provides guidance and support during 10 weekly art-making sessions, but does not make any decisions for the elder. The program concludes with a culminating art show. OMA is designed for small groups, so approximately 10 elders and 10 student volunteers participate in each OMA cycle.

Student Volunteer Testimonials

By working with local university students, Laumeier’s offering of OMA not only enhances well-being for seniors, it provides invaluable field experience for students pursuing careers in healthcare.

Occupational Therapy student doing art therapy with an older adult with Alzheimer's Disease.
Group of occupational therapy students posing for a photo at an OMA art show
Occupational Therapy student doing art therapy with an older adult with Alzheimer's Disease.

“Through this experience, I have grown tremendously, not only as a student but also as a person. OMA provides undergraduate students with a unique opportunity to interact with a population that is often ‘forgotten’ or not the first choice for many prospective occupational therapy students. I know that for myself and several other students, OMA has opened our eyes to the possibilities in OT and has made us more passionate about our future careers.”

“The OMA program opened my mind up to potentially working with populations other than what I thought I was set on. It exposed me to a new population and allowed me to form new relationships. Another benefit of OMA was the exposure to creative therapies. I had heard of creative therapies before; however, I had never had the opportunity to take part in them and facilitate the process.

“This experience gives undergraduates the opportunity to actually apply what they have learned in classes to real-life situations. Having the hands-on experience with OMA has affirmed that I do want to be an occupational therapist and that this is the right path for me.”

- Three Maryville University students who participated in Laumeier’s Spring 2022 OMA cycle

To find out more about bringing OMA to your facility or about volunteer opportunities, please contact Elsie Tuttle, Learning & Engagement Specialist, at etuttle@laumeier.org.