Birchaven Village, a division of Blanchard Valley Health System, will host an open house art show displaying the artwork created by residents with dementia through the program “Opening Minds through Art” (OMA). This art show will take place on November 29, 2018 from 1 to 5 p.m. in The Hub at Birchaven, located at 15100 Birchaven Lane, Findlay. A ceremony recognizing the artists will begin at 2 p.m. and guests will have the opportunity to meet and speak with the artists.

This art show is taking place in collaboration with the University of Findlay (Findlay, OH). The students from the University of Findlay entering art- or gerontology-related fields have been serving as “art partners” to assist residents in creating their artwork. The University of Findlay intends to display the artwork on campus for one semester.

The OMA program originated at Miami University (Oxford, OH) and is designed to provide artistic opportunities for persons who suffer from dementia. In addition to acting as a form of therapy for residents, the program studies how creating art affects individuals with dementia. Associates assess how residents feel before the art class begins and again at the conclusion of the session, gathering data and submitting it to Miami University at the conclusion of the semester in an effort to better aid individuals with dementia. The program consists of 10 sessions.

All are invited to witness the artwork created by Birchaven Village’s residents. For more information, call Birchaven Village at 419-424-3000.