Giving Compass' Take:

• Kate McLeod and Erin Dowdy explain how museum programs can help older adults with Alzheimer’s reduce anxiety and social isolation. 

• How can funders best support programs like the one discussed here? What partners could help a program like this thrive in your community? 

• Learn about the potential for fake towns to help people with Alzheimer’s.

It’s the first Wednesday of the month at the High Museum of Art and 20 participants have joined us for “Musing Together,” a program that serves adults living with memory loss and their caretakers. This pilot program was launched in spring 2017 in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association, Georgia Chapter and occurs on the first Wednesday of every month.

Although cultural institutions have created programs for this population for many years, how these programs are created—how educators are intentional in the works of art they select for the program, how much research and evaluation is put into a session, etc.—is growing and becoming more substantial.

Art museums in particular are focusing on how to create public programs that are inclusive for this growing population, caregivers, and family members, taking into consideration mental health, generational interactivity, family programming, art education, and more. As always, visitor survey feedback and participant evaluations are key to the success, as well as funding sources and donor interest to support such programs. Studies have shown that art museums with programming for people living with dementia, as well as their caregivers, is hugely beneficial, including stress relief and reduced feelings of isolation.

Read the source article about museum programs for those with Alzheimer's by Kate McLeod and Erin Dowdy at Americans for the Arts.