Elder Arts Initiative

Funded by the North Carolina Culture Change Coalition Enhancement Grant in conjunction with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, this three-year project provides a variety of creative programs to residents in certified nursing homes across North Carolina. Starting with its home base of the Triad, the project was built on CAN-NC’s twelve-year history of successful creative programming with older adults by expanding access to residents in skilled care locally and in rural areas of North Carolina.

Sites we are currently working with:

  1.  Accordius Health at Greensboro/Guilford County
  2.  Alpine Health and Rehab in Asheboro/Randolph County
  3.  Brian Center-Eden in Eden/Rockingham County
  4.  Carolina Pines in Greensboro/Guilford County
  5.  Clapps Nursing Home in Asheboro/Randolph County
  6.  Compass Healthcare and Rehab Hawfields in Mebane/Alamance County
  7.   Countryside Manor/Guilford County
  8.   Friends Homes Guilford in Greensboro/Guilford County
  9.   Friends Homes West in Greensboro/Guilford County
  10. Heartland Living and Rehab in Greensboro/Guilford County
  11. Maple Grove in Greensboro/Guilford County
  12. Mountain Vista Health Park in Denton, NC/Davidson County
  13. Twin Lakes Community in Burlington/Alamance County
  14. Westchester Manor in High Point/Guilford County
  15. Westwood Health and Rehab/Randolph County
  16. Whitestone in Greensboro/Guilford County
  17. Woodland Hill Center in Asheboro/Randolph Count
  18. Peak Resources in Graham/Alamance County

Training/Consulting

Training and consulting are available for staff in aging services who would like to broaden their knowledge and discover personal creative skills so they can develop more meaningful programming. Tainings are offered on best practices and evidence-based model programs, and ongoing consultations are offered based on a site’s needs and interests. We promote the person-directed approach and can help you improve the quality of relationships between staff and residents, as well as staff attitudes toward aging and associated issues such as with dementia. We can also assist with space planning, setup of activity stations, and community resources to help support the expansion and diversity of activities.

Presentations

Educational presentations about the health benefits for older adults engaging in the arts are available for groups such as associations, civic clubs, older adult ministries, senior centers and others throughout the state. Presentations cover the evolution of the creative aging field, the research that supports it, model programs and more.

Classes

We offer a wide variety of classes in visual arts as well as literary, performing, and environmental arts. We foster a class environment conducive to creative self-expression, where older adults feel free to explore without the fear of being judged. Because of this, participants experience increased self-confidence, become more socially engaged, learn new skills, rediscover existing talents, and feel a greater sense of overall well-being. As much as is possible during the pandemic, CAN-NC Teaching Artists will work collaboratively with older adults and those who care for them to define the scope of the artistic activity that’s appropriate and of greatest interest.

Creative Kits

A perfect gift for older adults, CAN Creative Kits include all the supplies along with step-by-step instructions, project descriptions and photos to engage older adults of all ability levels in the art-making process. Pre-recorded demonstrations as well as telephone and email support are provided to older adults, activity directors, and/or family caregivers as needed. All items in the kits are sanitized prior to sending. We see this as a great way to continue creative engagement during COVID-19 while also protecting the vulnerable older population and frontline workers of aging service providers.

Window Painting

To brighten the days of older adults living in nursing homes and other community settings, we recruit volunteers to paint seasonal images on windows in prominent and frequently visited areas of their buildings. Volunteers from Triad Retirement Living Association, Junior League and throughout our community have been great supporters of this fun and meaningful project.

SPECIAL PROJECTS

ARTmail

Edith and Ava, art partners from two different aging care communities, meet each other for the first time at the culminating reception of the ARTmail exhibition. Similar to pen pals, ARTmail partners exchange art boxes over time and build on each other’s artwork. The project uses Abstract Expressionism and shared art-making experiences to teach visual art skills, increase socialization, and reduce loneliness.

Learn English through Art

This intergenerational program engaged 40 refugee participants in 20 arts & citizenship classes to help them increase their language proficiency and obtain citizenship. They learned techniques of printing, paper-making and book-making using a variety of natural materials such as bamboo, mulberry and okra. They practiced writing in their very own handmade books and attended a celebratory luncheon at the project’s conclusion.

Wisdom: Artist Residency Series with Older Adults

The project was launched with Creativity Matters Training for young artist Karen Lynch Harley, teaching her techniques for engaging older adults in art-making through life review and lessons learned. Karen provided information about traditional Haliwa-Saponi symbols and their meanings, and encouraged the elder tribes people to incorporate meaningful symbols into their Mandalas and masks. This art was exhibited in Greensboro, in Durham and at the tribes annual pow-wow in Halifax.

Get In Touch

Location: 2400 Summit Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27405
Telephone: 336-303-9963
Email: info@can-nc.org
Hours: M-F: 9am – 5pm

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