The Brenda Strafford Foundation (Adult Day Program – Opening Minds Through Art)

• Background/police check required
• Appropriate for volunteers aged between 18 and 55
• Appropriate for volunteers aged 55 and over
• Training or orientation required

Opening Minds through Art (OMA) is an award-winning, evidence-based, intergenerational art-making program for people living with dementia. It was developed at Scripps Gerontology Center, an Ohio Center of Excellence at Miami University, in 2007. Opening Minds through Art (OMA)’s goal is to help build a society that values all people, including older adults living with dementia. We achieve this by building genuine friendships between people living with dementia and volunteers as they engage in artmaking. People living with dementia (artists) are paired with volunteers (students, families, caregivers) who are trained to rely on imagination instead of memory and focus on remaining strengths instead of lost skills. OMA enables people living with dementia to assume new roles as artists and teachers and leave a legacy of beautiful artwork. This is a time-sensitive volunteer role. From September 27th, 2023 for 6 to 8 weeks. Wednesday Afternoons 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Bow View Manor, 4628 Montgomery Blvd. NW, Calgary, AB