Aging & Society: Eighth Interdisciplinary Conference

Abstract

Just two short decades after the debut of the first permanent photographic process, inventor and writer Oliver Wendell Holmes recognized the profound role it would come to play in the future: “The photograph has completed the triumph, by making a sheet of paper reflect images like a mirror and hold them as a picture; [it is the] invention of the mirror with a memory.” Two centuries later, as photography is debated, examined and reinterpreted, these collections offer a rich trove of visual culture to explore the past. Through a county-wide outreach initiative, the Museum of Photographic Arts engages older adults and seniors across a spectrum of abilities through museum tours, art talks, and photography courses. A core demographic of the program are individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia and, each year, MOPA reaches this audience throughout the community at memory care facilities, caregiver support groups, and local dementia-focused organizations. MOPA’s program emphasizes a welcoming, conversational and supportive environment offering an in-the-moment experience. Engaging audiences with dementia through photography provides an accessible way to spark dialogue, activate long-term memory reminiscing about the past, and is a more familiar entry point to explore artistic expression. This workshop includes use of the selected museum images to facilitate discussion with emphasis on specific challenges facing those experiencing mid-onset Alzheimer’s and dementia; details the program’s method for content development and implementation; and shares the results of ongoing assessment for outcomes related to the participant’s health and well-being, level of social interaction, and reported personal growth.