Art Comes Alive At Samuel Field Y

The room buzzed with discussion and laughter as seniors in the Family Respite Program at the Samuel Field Y reveled in the power of art and stimulating conversation at a special event for seniors with Alzheimer's disease Thursday.

Led by Amanda Williams, a museum educator with the Museum of Modern Art's Community Access Program, seniors discussed the work Vincent Van Gogh, then painted their very own master pieces.

And Williams couldn't have been happier to share her love of art.

"This has been such a wonderful experience for me," Williams said. "I love meeting the community and can't wait to come back to the Samuel Field Y."

MoMA's Alzheimer's Project strives to make art accessible to people with dementia and offers a wide array of programs, many of which are free, that are geared towards seniors struggling with all stages of the disease.

"It's really incredible when you think about it, that the MoMA offers such wonderful programs to the seniors of New York," said Jamie Cooperman, director of the 'Family Respite Program' at Samuel Field Y.

According to Cooperman, art therapy is one of the latest fields in treating Alzheimer's, and over the past few years studies have shown it quite effective when dealing with the disease.

Nanette Jiji, who helped coordinate Thrusday's event was also pleased to be part of the effort to make great works of art accessible for everyone.

"My father was a member here at the Y, and loved the art programs they offered," Jiji said. "So it was an honor to give back to a place which meant so much to him."

For the group members in all of the Memory Care Programs offered at the Y, the Samuel Field Y is like their second home, according to Sol Jacobson, who's a member of the Early Stage Memory Care Program.  

"We're like a family," Jacobson said. "I genuinely look forward to coming here all week."

The Samuel Field Y offers a wide range of services to seniors struggling with Alzheimer's, separating seniors into two different groups, depending on the stage of their disease, which affects memory and cognitive skills.

Seniors in the 'Early Stage Memory Program,' which is designed to meet the needs of seniors in the early stages of Alzheimer's meets twice a week, on Tuesday's and Thursdays, between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The 'Family Respite Program,' which is for seniors struggling with the later stages of Alzheimer's, meets Monday through Friday, between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

"All of the services we offer here at the Y, are designed to give members a sense of purpose, by allowing them to feel like their thoughts are still relevant," Cooperman said.

Thursday's art appreciation day seemed to do just that.

"They did a wonderful thing here today," Jacobson said. "I'm really fortunate to be part of such a fabulous group."

The Memory Care programs provide adult day care to older adults with Alzheimer's disease or related memory disorders and hosts daily activities designed to foster socialization, mental stimulation and to improve quality of life.

For more on the programs offered at the Samuel Field Y, visit www.sfy.org