Opening Minds through Art (OMA)
Facilitator Training

Opening Minds through Art (OMA) is an award-winning, evidence-based, intergenerational art-making program for people living with dementia.

OMA was developed by Dr. Elizabeth Lokon, a Gerontologist, at Scripps Gerontology Center, Miami University, Ohio. OMA is an award-winning, evidence based program with international impact. People living with dementia (artists) are paired with volunteers (students, families, caregivers) who are trained to rely on imagination instead of memory and focus on remaining strengths instead of lost skills. OMA enables people living with dementia to assume new roles as artists and teachers and leave a legacy of beautiful artwork.

Where can you find OMA?

  • Long-term care residences where passionate Activities Staff provide this best-practice programming, including Art Shows
  • Art organizations implement OMA for Community outreach
  • Memory cafes through Area Agencies on Aging (AAA’s) are beginning to implement the award-winning program.
  • Friendship Cafes can implement OMA
  • Adult-Day Centers can implement OMA
  • Independent individuals looking to facilitate the program in expanded locations such as county libraries.
  • Home-Health Care Organizations can implement OMA one on one.
  • Academic partners who are interested in the intersection of Art and Health receive certification.

The Impact

Reaching Lives Through Training

OMA is now impacting lives across the globe because its brilliant methodology ensures that positive results are consistent, attainable, and meaningful wherever it is conducted. The program can be replicated by anyone seeking to bring it to a long-term care community, rehab center, adult day program, hospice, or home setting.

Art for the Journey has provided OMA Facilitator Training to individuals across the US in strong partnership with Scripps OMA, scaling a best-practice program statewide for people living with dementia. Our team has loved every moment partnering with Scripps OMA, LeadingAge Virginia, and many long-term care communities for the past 9 years, delivering hybrid and in-person OMA Facilitator Training.

OMA Facilitator Training is now exclusively online

OMA Facilitator Training has been offered through Scripps OMA based in Miami University, where it was developed and continues to inspire thousands of individuals.

Thank you, to our wonderful partners at the Scripps Gerontology Center, Miami University, Ohio, and Dr. Elizabeth Lokon, Founder of OMA for allowing Art for the Journey to help share this remarkable program that opens the minds and promotes well-being for all involved!

With the encouragement of Scripps, Art for the Journey is pausing traditional OMA Facilitator training to focus on developing an adapted model to reach people without a dementia diagnosis. The foundation of OMA provides the best-practice framework to explore the potential of impact for thousands that otherwise would not have access, especially younger adults and children with physical disabilities.

Registration for online training is open through Scripps OMA!

Register for OMA Facilitator Training with Scripps OMA
Individuals Certified
Certified OMA Sites in Virginia
Older Adults Reached

OMA Facilitator Training at Art for the Journey in 2025 – 2026

This impactful work is made possible only through partnership.

    National Endowment for the Arts

    Alzheimers Foundation of America

    We support our Certified OMA Facilitators!

    Already certified? Tell us how we can best support you!

    OMA Facilitator Questionnaire

    Three YEAR EXPANSION through MEDICAID for NURSING HOMES:

    OMA Expands Across Virginia Through Government Funding

    Over three years, Art for the Journey certified 81 nursing homes and 174 facilitators to implement OMA across Virginia, thanks to our partnership with LeadingAge Virginia and the DMAS CMP Reinvestment Program. In total, AFJ has certified more than 330 individuals across the US and Canada since 2017. Thank you, LeadingAge Virginia and the State of Virginia Department of Medical Assistance services for helping to impact thousands of lives of Virginia through this expansion.

    Catch A Glimpse

    Discover the Possibilities of Person-Centered Engagement through Art

    We believe everyone, regardless of ability, can be elevated through art.

    Investing in Well-Being As We Age

    What is well-being? Positive psychologist, Martin Seligman, defined well-being in his famous PERMA model. According to his research, all humans need five critical components to live whole and healthy lives:

    • Positive Emotion
    • Engagement
    • Relationship
    • Meaningfulness
    • Accomplishment

    This model is at the core of OMA’s brilliant methodology that harnesses strengths and centers the individual, not the illness. We witness the effectiveness of this philosophy in the lives of all program participants, regardless of their cognitive abilities.

    Features of OMA Programs

    Find out about the OMA programs provided by Art for the Journey.

    Peer Connection

    Meet and connect with like-minded professionals in the aging sector

    Professional growth

    Earn CEUs as an Activities Professional (NCCAP) or Dementia Practitioner (NCCDP)

    Personal enrichment

    Create meaningful relationships with residents, staff, & community volunteers

    Witness the OMA Facilitator Experience

    OMA Certification training is fun, and the program is beautiful! Join us!

    Hear What Others Have to Say

    • Setting up for success

      I am so thankful to have crossed paths with OMA and Art for the Journey! I had such a blast at OMA Facilitator Training, I am inspired by all of your hard work, generosity, and kindness. Thank you for setting me up to succeed.
      Hannah Jones
      Certified OMA Facilitator

    • Thoughtfully crafted

      I was deeply moved by the community’s connections and creations. OMA is a thoughtfully crafted art program that benefits everyone involved.
      Heather N.
      OMA Volunteer

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