By Christi Mays
This summer semester, a group of occupational therapy students teamed up with the arts academy to create a student-led event with arts and activities for senior adults with dementia.
The evidence-based programs, called “Memory Cafés,” are designed to create inclusive spaces for people living with dementia and their families and friends and included arts, games, current events and music.
“The purpose of the cafés is to create opportunities for socialization in inclusive environments for people living with dementia and their caregivers,” said OT Assistant Professor Dr. Laura Novak. “We want to have a place where they can come have fun, socialize and meet other people experiencing the same journey.”
As part of the occupational therapy curriculum, OT graduate students complete a three-semester integrative project. After completing a community needs assessment, one of Novak’s student groups decided to create the Memory Café event and reached out to Cherry Garasi, director of the UMHB Arts Academy, to see if the academy would be interested in partnering on the project. Together, OT and the Arts Academy then partnered with the Area Agency on Aging who provides the space, advertising and registration for the events.
Novak was thrilled with participation at the first three sessions, saying around 20 to 25 participants came to each event.
