In August, Sadie Harmon joined Elder Care Alliance as Dementia-Inclusive Communities Director. This initiative, supported by a generous grant from The San Francisco Foundation, aims to combat ageism and stigma against people living with dementia through access to arts and culture. Making Connections Between Art and Aging Over the next year, Harmon will organize six…

Medication Management for Seniors with Dementia

Are individuals diagnosed with dementia more likely to receive inappropriate medications? A recent study provides troubling evidence that the use of unnecessary medications increases following a diagnosis. The University of Sydney study — conducted with the University of Kentucky and Yale University, and published in the Journals of Gerontology: Medical Sciences — followed almost 2,500…

When you participate, you contribute to advances in science and medicine, create new knowledge, and shape best practices. Have you ever participated in research? What was your experience like? Did you wonder if your contribution made an impact? As a researcher, I can speak for myself and say that I am so endlessly grateful to…

Creativity & Research at Elder Care Alliance

Creativity and research are inextricably linked; in order to bring forth new knowledge, explore emerging ideas, or bravely refute previously accepted information, we have to get outside the rigid confines of thoughts like “this is just how things are,” or “this is the way we have always done things.” Though the word research may initially…

Big News For Art Therapy This week, something big happened with implications for art therapy, creativity, and research at Elder Care Alliance! First, an update from Erin Partridge, PhD, ATR-BC on art therapy and creativity in our communities and then the big announcement. Art Therapy at Elder Care Alliance Last month, I presented at the American Art…

Technology in Assisted Living at Elder Care Alliance

Are robots our new friends or potential replacements? Whichever category we consider them in, they are coming to assisted living. Elder Care Alliance recently received Jibo, a social robot, and we have been exploring his capabilities with the residents in our memory care and assisted living communities. Though I have interacted with several different…

September is Healthy Aging Month and National Yoga Month. In this guest blog, Dr. Erin Partridge, ATR-BC, an Experiential Researcher in Residence for Elder Care Alliance, shares how these two topics connect and dispels a few myths about yoga. Why Yoga? Most of us know we should move our bodies more. Do a quick scan…

Each May, the Administration for Community Living leads the nation’s celebration of Older Americans Month. This year’s “Age Out Loud” theme gives aging a new voice – one that reflects what today’s older adults have to say about aging. This month, Elder Care Alliance focuses on amplifying the many voices of older Americans and raising…

In my time as an art therapist with older adults, I’ve encountered many people dealing with low vision. Most notable were two elders who came regularly to art therapy groups. One had life-long vision loss; he was a strong advocate for independence and autonomy. He enjoyed creating clay sculptures and working with textured materials. Another…