OMA (Opening Minds through Art) was founded by Dr. Elizabeth “Like” Lokon in 2007 and is grounded in person-centered care principles. It is headquartered at Scripps Gerontology Center, an Ohio Center of Excellence at Miami University. People 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 with dementia to assume new roles as artists and teachers and leave a legacy of beautiful artwork. OMA has been widely replicated.

Cedarhurst Center for the Arts has partnered with SSM Health in Mt. Vernon, IL and offered two sessions of OMA classes to our community in 2019 and 2018. This impactful program was not only significant to the artists but as well as the artists family members and our volunteers. Click here to view program photos.

If you are interested in knowing more about the program please contact Jennifer Sarver, Director of Education 618-242-1236 ext. 224 |  jennifer@cedarhurst.org.