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Artistically Serving for Elderly
Approximately 5.2 million Americans and 109,000 Virginians live with Alzheimer’s and related dementia diseases. Research has shown that keeping the brain active and stimulated can improve the quality of life for people with dementia.
Understanding that the arts are an outlet for creative expression and also stimulate the brain, Dianne Denny, Executive Director of Southerland Assisted Living Facility, contacted Min Cho, assistant professor in VCU’s Department of Art Education. 
Hearing the call from the community, Dr. Cho included Southerland as part of her service-learning for the spring of 2007 and three students engaged residents in art activities ranging from landscape painting to memory-provoking wall plaques.
Through their interactions with elderly residents, the participating university students increased their understanding of the residents’ cognitive, emotional and behavioral abilities. In the fall of 2007, 10 students were placed at Southerland and all found a similar learning experience as the previous group.
The success of this VCU partnership has spread and other assisted-living communities have requested VCU art education students to work with their clients. As a result, 36 students have been placed at assisted-living sites in Richmond for the fall 2008 semester.
Get involved
To support this program or get involved as a volunteer, contact Min Cho at mcho@vcu.edu.