Over twenty years, as caregivers charting activities of daily living (ADL's) we have observed improved cognitive functioning, such as memory enhancement, in seniors ...by involving them in visual art programs taught by health caregivers who are also creative types* and also special education teachers.

Aging Thru Art is a classroom destination for caregivers to take senior clients for art education in our studio or your home -- to maintain, increase or enhance cognitive functioning in seniors, and seniors with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or early-to-mid-stage Alzheimer's Disease (AD).

*Art Education refers to John Gardner's work on multiple intelligences (located in different cognitive brain sectors), in order to individualize interactions with clients or participants based on their cognitive strengths ...as different people have different cognitive strengths; and, John Dewey's work on cognitive transformation and integration of the individual into democracy thru the practice of art.

*Creative types refers to, for example: visual artists, dancers, jazz singers, storytellers, actors,  photographers, writers.

-1- Aging Thru Art Program for Mom, Dad & their Caregivers

FOR CAREGIVER REFERRAL REGISTRIES If you're a bonded and licensed registry, then it's very likely you already know, have qualified and bonded, and worked with several of the caregivers who are also artists and performing artists, who work with us. Many have already met your high standards, and you can feel comfortable referring your clients, and other caregivers to our staff and programs ... because you know us, and how professional we are. Can you refer your clients to us? ...for an additional hourly commission? ...read more

FOR CAREGIVERS Your clients are often homebound, and while you can take them out to eat, shop or go to a museum ...have you noticed there is no place in metropolitan Portland where you can take them for individualized creative and entertaining activities that is staffed by caregivers such as yourself, who are also artists and performing artists, to stimulate and entertain your clients and let you take the passenger seat for a while? ...read more

 FOR MOM AND DAD Want Mom and Dad to benefit from our cognitive arts programs? ...know that scientific studies using similar cognitive art intervention programs as ours have been proven to encourage brain wellness and natural neural regeneration, providing a viable and natural means to enhance cognitive functioning in seniors and elders diagnosed with MCI and mild-to-moderate stages of Alzheimer's Disease? ...read more

FOR YOU Feel your own cognition slipping? ...would you like to be creatively and intellectually stimulated, and be around others who feel that way, too? ...would you consider enrolling yourself in one of our programs.

-2- MCI/Alzheimer's Disease 12-Step Cognitive Arts Program

FOR RETIREMENT HOMES, MCI/AD ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES Do you have high standards to maintain to attract demanding clients? Would those clients be pleased to participate in activites designed to maintain and enhance their cognitive abilities? ...and, to have more low cost local talent performing artists to entertain them? (Also see, 'Mom and Dad', above.)

-3- A Cognitive Stimulation Program for Storytellers to Come To County Licensed Adult Care Homes

FOR ADULT HOME CARE PROVIDERS Want to reduce stress and conflict and have a more harmonious home environment? ...give your clients a sense of self-empowerment, purpose and worth? ... provide your clients cognitive stimulation and social engagement to enhance their world? (and their standing in that world) ...remind clients of their strengths that were once useful? ... combat client feelings of isolation and resignation, and provide companionship? ...and, do you have problem clients, whose only sense of power comes from engaging in conflict? ...if so, why not engage them in stimulating cognitive activities that will occupy them and make them happy, instead? ...read more

-4- What is Cognitive Arts?

Cognitive Arts is a term we coined to describe a scientific field first researched and established in the 1950's and research continues, today. 

There have been many scientific studies documenting that cognition can often improve naturally in seniors and elders when their cognitive brain centers become stimulated with creative activities such as art, learning, education, movement, and activities that use hearing, tasting, smelling, feeling, seeing, and thinking.

That cognitive maintenance and improvement process is called, cognitive neuroplasticity, describing how your brain rewires itself while learning new tasks, in order to understand, and accomplish new tasks, and naturally improve with practice.

Additionally, there are many successful creative aging programs in use nationally and internationally catching the public's eye as we age. However, our programs focus on maintaining cognitive stability and increasing neuroplasticity.

-5- Terms & Rates

TERMS & RATES

Aging thru art, Cognitive Art Sessions, Art Classes and Performing Art performances

Private Retirement Home or Assisted Living Facility ...by arrangement.

Sessions in our art studio or in a centralized classroom ...limited to three-to-six clients per instructor in a 40 minute session, priced at $10-to-$20 per client per session ...to total $60/per session per instructor.

Private individual sessions at your home ...by contractual agreement are limited to guided individual sessions with 1 instructor ...45-to-90 minutes a day on a one-time basis, or three-to-five times a week ...for 12-to-24 week sessions with fees in some cases adjusted to ability to pay. Program enrollment is limited. Schedule a low cost evaluation session for your mom or dad.

County Licensed Adult Care Homes ...$60/per 40-minute session.

 

        

 

(above) Shakti, etching, 12" x 14", by Linnea Bowman, 1990 >click pic to enlarge

 

 untitled, etching, 11" x 14", by Linnea Bowman, 1990 >click pic again to enlarge