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Arts and Culture

Arts and culture play an important role at The Johnson Center. Music and visual arts provide meaningful, stimulating activities that increase self-esteem, encourage emotional expression and activate memories. Programs include live performances and music listening in a variety of genres, from classic to country. Chorale groups and professional entertainers often appear at the Center. Theme events, always a memorable experience at The Johnson Center, are rich in costume, prop, decoration and music specialties. Participants at the center engage in group writing activities. For example, they may create their own poem and then take it home with them at the end of the day.

The Center enjoys an affiliation with ArtReach, which provides free tickets to concerts and museums not only for participants but for family caregivers as well. Van trips are sometimes scheduled through the Center to these events to help meet transportation needs. To take advantage of this program, family members must be available by e-mail for reservations and other arrangements.

The signature arts program at the Center is Memories in the Making, whose facilitators and resident artists are trained by the Alzheimer’s Association. The program meets for an hour of drawing and painting. The activity differs from the traditional “arts and crafts” classes for the elderly. The goal of the program is not to teach a skill or create a finished product, but to encourage communication through painting, to express feelings and to provide a quiet and focused time with friends. This program helps to activate memories and increase self-esteem. Memories in the Making is often a good beginning activity for participants who are not yet prepared to come to the Center for a full- or half-day. Participants need not know how to draw or paint to benefit from this fun and meaningful program.