What is OMA?
Opening Minds through Art (OMA) is an intergenerational art program for people with dementia. Our purpose is to build bridges across age and cognitive abilities through art. The program pairs students with older adults living with dementia for the benefit of all. Older adults showed better well-being during OMA than in other activities. Students showed more positive attitudes toward people living with dementia after participating in OMA.
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What is ScrippsAVID?
Based on the success of OMA’s virtual classes during the pandemic, we developed ScrippsAVID.
ScrippsAVID (Arts-based, Virtual, Intergenerational, and Dementia-friendly) is a free video-chat platform
to connect students and older adults around the country. The platform allows different generations to
share the arts (drawing, music, poetry, and stories), and build friendships.
• IMAGE: ScrippsAVID: Video chat platform with art prompts.
From Elizabeth Lokon, PhD, OMA’s Founder and Director
Opening Minds through Art (OMA), is an intergenerational art program for people living with dementia that I developed as my thesis at Miami University in 2007. After 16 years of using the arts to build intergenerational friendships, I am now ready to retire and am leaving OMA in the extremely capable hands of Dr. Amy Elliot, Meghan Young, and Krysta Peterson. We have raised awareness of the importance of bridging the age divide in our society, developed methods to access the creativity of people living with dementia, and improved students’ attitudes toward older adults. The OMA Team at Scripps Gerontology Center is poised to continue this work nationally and internationally. Your donation will help us sustain this very important work.
• IMAGE: The OMA Team: Left to Right: Amy Elliot, PhD; Elizabeth Lokon, PhD; Meghan Young, MGS; and Krysta Peterson in front.
From Katherine Abbott, PhD, Executive Director of Scripps Gerontology Center
It’s time to celebrate all that Dr. Lokon has done over the years to make a positive difference in the lives of older adults, their families, and communities. OMA has been 100% funded through grants, training facilitators, and generous donations from people like you. Join me in giving to OMA to ensure that it remains a vibrant and impactful program. Thank you for your support and we hope to see you at one of our OMA events soon
.