National Center For Creative Aging Presents Symposium Highlighting Best Practices In Developing Creative Programs For People With Dementia

Main Category: Alzheimer's / Dementia
Also Included In: Seniors / Aging;  Conferences
Article Date: 27 Mar 2009 - 4:00 PDT

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The National Center for Creative Aging (NCCA) will feature the "NCCA-MetLife Foundation Creativity Matters: Health, Wellness & the Arts Symposium," highlighting a number of speakers discussing developing innovative programs for people with dementia and their caregivers on March 30, 31 and April 1.

Tuesday, March 31, Gene Cohen, Director of the Center on Aging, Health & Humanities at The George Washington University will present an overview of Alzheimer's disease describing the nature of the disorder as well as the changes one observes during the course of the disorder at The Phillips Collection. He will also discuss a number of topics ranging from high tech medicine and molecular biology to innovations in behavioral and psychosocial science to the role of art in improving the quality of life of people with dementia.

Tuesday will also feature Dina Zempsky, Senior Coordinator, Story Corps Memory Loss Initiative who will discuss the StoryCorps Memory Loss Initiative, which aims to support and encourage people with dementia to share their stories. People with dementia are interviewed and each conversation is recorded onto a free CD to share with their family and friends, and is then archived in the Library of Congress.

Other keynote introducers and facilitators include Paula Terry, Director, Access Ability Office, National Endowment for the Arts; Marie Bernard, Deputy Director, National Institutes on Aging, National Institutes of Health; Janine Tursini, Executive Director, Arts for the Aging; Judy Diaz, Sr. Director, Brand Strategy, PBS; Marsha Semmel, Deputy Director for Museums and Deputy Director of Strategic Partnerships, Institute of Museum and Library Services; Susan Perlstein, Founder and Director of Educational Services, NCCA and Andrea Sherman, Master Teaching Artist and President of Transitional Keys. Anthony Hyatt, Master Teaching Artist, NCCA, Musician/Dancer, Arts for the Aging will also perform.

The National Center for Creative Aging (NCCA) was founded in 2001 and is dedicated to fostering an understanding of the vital relationship between creative expression and healthy aging and to developing programs that build on this understanding. Based in Washington, DC, NCCA is a nonprofit with 2,500 members and is affiliated with The George Washington University. http://www.creativeaging.org

National Center for Creative Aging
http://www.creativeaging.org

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