Creative Engagement: Caregiver Symposium

This symposium was an exciting special event presented by two arts focused organizations, who make a difference in their communities, Stories Love Music and Art League of Ocean City. An event about the power of Creative Engagement in health care, memory care and the wellness of our caregiver population on the Eastern Shore and beyond. We envisioned this symposium being for professionals in health care and memory care, executive leadership of long term care facilities and caregivers; as well as the general public who have a personal connection to the themes of wellness in caregiving and healing through the arts. This symposium was both fun and educational with speakers on the topic of Creative Engagement, inspiring and relaxing multi-dimensional creative engagement sessions, panel conversations, live music, yummy food and more!

Learning Objectives for this Symposium

We will define Creative Engagement. How do the arts allow us to be in a different state of mind and health in our lives?

How does personalized training of care staff allow for personalized health care?

Experience for yourself how Creative Engagement is Self Care and Stress Management.

Learn about specific Creative Engagement tools, to use strategically for memory care, and employee retention issues and to bring more joy to the caregiving process.

Schedule of Symposium Events | October 24 - 26, 2024

*All events held at the Art League of Ocean City

Thursday, October 24th, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Opening Night Celebration & Fundraising Event

Enjoy live music, hors d’oeuvres, beer, and wine in the beautiful galleries of the OC Center for the Arts. View a special art exhibition created by individuals living with dementia and their caregivers. Plus silent auction, art activities, and more. Proceeds to support the Symposium programs and the nonprofits: Art League of Ocean City and Stories Love Music.

Friday, October 25th, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Symposium Events

Relaxation Room:

An ongoing place for caregivers and all to relax, recharge, and reset with soothing sounds and atmosphere.

Ongoing Exhibits:

A special art exhibition created by individuals living with dementia and their caregivers through workshops with Sivan Perdue. Also on display will be a building-wide multimedia exhibition called “The Red Thread”, featuring artwork that explores the red thread as a symbol of unity and connection to the community. Curated by Deborah Rolig.

10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Creative Engagement Panel Discussion in the Main Gallery

Hear from experts in the fields of healthcare, art & music therapy, and come away with a new understanding of the benefits of creative engagement in health care and memory care. Moderated by: Rose Kavanaugh O’Neil.

Panelists include:

Ilyana Kadushin: Executive Director and Founder of Stories Love Music
Loretta Veney: Facilitator of Lego Serious Play
Sivan Perdue: Art Therapist and Founder of Perdue Art Therapy
Rose Kavanagh O’Neil: Director of Community Relations at Bay Harbor.
Niki Runge: Music Therapist and Owner of Chesapeake Music Therapy.

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Community Weaving Project in the Relaxation Room

Join us in building a collaborative weaving which represents the fabric of our community. The Art League of Ocean City’s Community Weaving Project is led by Beth Deeley, a local fiber artist. Beth and her traveling loom will visit several local events and organizations to bring this initiative to people of all ages and backgrounds. By participating in this project, you can bring the fabric of our community to life.

12 PM-12:30 PM

“Building Community through Shared Drumming” in the Main Gallery

Janice Schreibman asked police officers and BIPOC youth to engage in a drumming experience together for the purpose of examining preconceptions of each group/individual about the other group/individuals and if those ideas changed as both groups engaged in a creative endeavor, drumming. She will present her findings and explore what next.

Jan Schreibman is a board certified music therapist (MT-BC) who has worked a a clinician for more than thirty years. She is co-chair of the American Music Therapy Association Ethics Board and has served the field of music therapy on state, regional, and national levels. She established the music therapy degree at the University of Indianapolis in 2017 and is in the process of developing the music therapy degree at Salisbury University.

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

Lego/ Live Music Workshop in the Downstairs Classroom

Both Stories Love Music and Loretta Veney Inspires independently provide activities that reduce anxiety, depression, and burnout in caregivers and individuals living with dementia and Alzheimer’s, and now in a special collaboration from both organizations, a special training event has been developed.

Musical selections and strategies for managing behaviors of individuals living with dementia and Alzheimer’s and self-care for caregivers.
LEGO® building tasks that participants will complete in response to the musical selections played, benefiting both individuals living with dementia and Alzheimer’s and caregivers.

The collaborative sessions will allow participants to experience the power of both listening to music and creating their own responses to it.

Through this collaboration participants will leave with double tools for avoiding burnout from just one event.

*This workshop is for caregivers by invitation only. Led by Ilyana Kadushin/ James Harrell and Loretta Veney.

2:00 PM-2:30 PM

The Sages of Oak Place: Book Reading by Author, Dr. Carolyn Stegman in Main Gallery

The Sages of Oak Place, by Dr. Carolyn Stegman, is a novel that has reframed aging by creating a community where elders live fully in an atmosphere that values their often unsung, yet extraordinary lives…and rejects a trajectory toward death that is boring and lonely. For many years, Dr. Stegman taught the psychology of aging courses at Salisbury University, while serving as a consultant for MAC, the area agency on aging. Stegman’s experiences have created vibrant characters who have realized the joys in aging, as well as what it takes to tackle the challenges. In this special session, she will do some readings, and guide the audience through the wonderful legacy of revealing their own autobiographies.

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Sound Bath in Main Gallery

Led by: Chrissy Ehrhart (Zenna Wellness)

Sound healing/sound therapy is an ancient healing modality using vibrational musical instruments such as crystal and Himalayan Bowls, drums, bells, and voice that will bring clients into a deep relaxation while vibrations of sound will travel through the body, creating a harmonious balance of the body and mind’s cells. Sound therapy nourishes the body’s nerve endings, reducing chronic pain and inflammation while lowering heart rate, blood pressure, and toxic levels in the body. Sound healing is used in clinical, personal, and hospital settings in the US and all around the world.

Saturday, October 26th

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Private Tour

A private tour and reception at Art League of Ocean City for the artists living with dementia and their caregivers whose art pieces are in the symposium exhibition.