DIDSBURY - An intergenerational art program, Opening Minds through Art (OMA), recently held at Bethany Didsbury brought together students from Didsbury High School's (DHS) leadership class and lodge residents to work together on art.
The program has been around since 2017 and was started in Didsbury by Brandee Elliott, a recreational therapist for Didsbury Integrated Home Care.
"The mission of the program is to build bridges across age and cognitive barriers through art," said Elliott, who facilitated the OMA program once again this year.. "The program is an intergenerational art program for people with cognitive barriers or dementia."
"We had nine artists participate and eight volunteers. We have a partnership with the Didsbury High School Leadership class, which provides one-on-one support for the program. Opening Minds through Art ran for six weeks for one hour per day every Thursday. Artists created abstract art with the support of a volunteer."
On Nov. 22, the program held a reception and art show at Bethany, which saw 74 guests attend. The show raised $650 through a silent auction for the art, said Elliott.
"The dollars raised will go back into the program to enable subsequent sessions to be facilitated," she said.
Cali Beazley, leadership teacher at DHS, said her class has participated in the program from the very start.
"We are ambassadors for Didsbury High School in our community as well as in our school," said Beazley. "We had seven students involved this year. The feedback from the students was all positive and they are looking forward to doing it again."
Beazley said the program is just as beneficial for the students as it is for the residents.
"It's different for each student," she said. "Generally speaking, I believe they all walk away with a new friendship, develop empathy, and a sense of pride in themselves for doing something to help others."
