Starting this fall, Arts Unbound of Orange, NJ is conducting a monthly participatory arts program for seniors at SAGE Eldercare’s adult day program. The Spend-A-Day participants in the program are receiving individual fine art lessons as a result of a grant from the Grotta Fund for Senior Care.
“Each month, an artist arrives with quality art supplies and works with approximately ten older adults for about an hour to take a plain piece of paper and turn it into a piece of art,” noted Deanna Butters, Director of SAGE Eldercare’s Spend-A-Day program. “On a regular basis, we incorporate a variety of activities into our adult day program calendar, including arts and crafts, musical entertainment, games, discussions, and celebrations, so it is a real treat when our attendees have a special class to use their hidden talents.”
SAGE’s adult day program, Spend-A-Day, is offered Monday to Friday, with an option for extended hours of care, and is staffed by caring, experienced interdisciplinary professionals, including a full-time registered nurse and licensed geriatric social worker. The program is most helpful to families who are caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or is post-stroke or post-surgery. The program provides valuable respite for caregivers who work outside the home or need time to tend to other responsibilities.
“We are most grateful to the Grotta Fund for Senior Care for their generous grant in providing the funds to make this program possible for some of our clients,” added Fred Jenny, Executive Director of SAGE. “Like our mission, the Grotta Fund for Senior Care aims to benefit older adults living in northern New Jersey so that they can age in place in the comfort of their own homes and communities with dignity and grace.”
Arts Unbound offers many types of in-studio art classes, including printmaking, digital photography, graphic design, drawing fundamentals, drink and draw, painting and pinot, and paper mache. Additionally, artists who are seniors or have a disability can contact the studio to have their artwork considered for an upcoming gallery exhibit.
The Arts Unbound program is also available to the public as an individual in-home class or at the Arts Unbound Studio and Gallery in Orange. More information on these individual two-hour fine and traditional art classes can be obtained by calling Armisey Smith, Director of Arts Education for Arts Unbound, at 973.675.2787.
To learn more about SAGE Eldercare’s adult day program, please call 908.598.5520 or visit www.sageeldercare.org.
Since 1954, SAGE Eldercare has been helping make the communities it serves an amazing place to age. The organization provides a wide array of information, support, and services designed to help individuals lead the most independent and active lives possible. From helping with errands, to exercise classes, community programs, care planning, and home health care, SAGE’s expertise helps older adults remain independent in their own homes. SAGE is committed to being the leading provider of programs and services to meet the changing needs of older adults, their families, and caregivers throughout Union, Essex, Morris, and Somerset Counties. For more information, please call 908.273.5550 or visit www.sageeldercare.org.
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Arts Unbound Photo Caption: Starting this fall, Arts Unbound of Orange, NJ is conducting a monthly participatory arts program for seniors at SAGE Eldercare’s Spend-A-Day adult day program through a grant from the Grotta Fund for Senior Care. Pictured above, Sydney Pretto of Berkeley Heights and Barbara (Bobbi) Minoff of West Orange, are shown with their finished artwork. For more information on SAGE’s adult day program, call 908.273.5550 or visit www.sageeldercare.org.