Intergenerational and Intragenerational Connections within a University Art Museum Program for People with Dementia

Authors

Sujal Manohar, Duke UniversityFollow
Jessica Kay Ruhle, Duke UniversityFollow

Abstract

This visual essay highlights the impacts of the Nasher Museum of Art’s Reflections program, which engages people with dementia (PWD) and their care partners through interactive art museum tours. This program’s conversation-based tours with built-in time to socialize are designed to foster intergenerational and intragenerational connections between PWD and museum gallery guides, PWD and care partners, and between PWD. Discussions about artwork are visitor-driven and encourage lifelong learning among participants. Anecdotal feedback from Reflections participants and gallery guides confirms the value of relationship building, improving quality of life for PWD.

By fostering community and strong connections, Reflections programs help reduce the social isolation that is common among PWD. In addition, such programs for PWD are important because they are tailored to the specific needs of this group. This reduces barriers to socialization, decreases stigma surrounding the condition, and creates a safe space within the larger institution of an art museum.

DOI

DOI: https://doi.org/10.25889/307w-0x42

Rights

© The Author(s). This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Manohar, Sujal and Ruhle, Jessica Kay (2021) "Intergenerational and Intragenerational Connections within a University Art Museum Program for People with Dementia," International Journal of Lifelong Learning in Art Education: Vol. 4, Article 11.
Available at: https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/ijllae/vol4/iss1/11