ARTZ Philadelphia Brings Renowned Advocate to the Region
The Philly-based non-profit is hosting Michael Verde of Memory Bridge, in his first-ever visit to the area. He will present events designed to change the way we communicate with people living with dementia.
Philadelphia, PA – For the past six years, the non-profit ARTZ Philadelphia has been serving thousands of people in the Greater Philadelphia Area through programs designed to connect people living with dementia and their care partners with artists, cultural institutions and each other. Their evidence-based approach provides opportunities for self-expression and the rebuilding of self-esteem and dignity to people who live with dementia.
This September, ARTZ Philadelphia will deepen their mission by teaming with world-renowned advocate for people living with dementia Michael Verde, of the Indiana-based non-profit Memory Bridge. Together, they will bring ground-breaking events to the Philadelphia region. The series, called “Love Is Listening” includes a workshop, a public lecture and documentary screenings, all designed to improve communication, and to change the narrative of what it means to live with dementia.
This will be the first time Michael Verde will present his work in the Philadelphia area. He founded Memory Bridge, a multiple award-winning and internationally recognized non-profit, in 2003. To date, Memory Bridge has connected over 8,500 people, with and without dementia, in one-to-one relationships. He is the producer of the PBS documentaries There Is a Bridge and Love Is Listening: Dementia Without Loneliness. He teaches and trains in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia.
On September 23, 2019, Verde will lead the workshop I Am a Bridge: Healing the Dis-Ease of Dementia at the Woodmere Art Museum. The interactive communication workshop is suitable for healthcare professionals, social workers, long-term care administrators, activity professionals, case managers, art therapists, friends and family and anyone who cares for or about a person living with dementia. The workshop has been approved for continuing education credits through several Pennsylvania, New Jersey and national professional organizations.
On September 26, 2019, at 7 PM, Woodmere Art Museum will again host ARTZ Philadelphia and Memory Bridge as they screen two documentaries, Moment to Moment and Love is Listening: Dementia Without Loneliness. These films will challenge and inspire viewers to understand the lived experiences of dementia in a new way. Filmmakers Michael Attie and Michael Verde will be present for a talkback after the films are shown.
And on September 26, 2019 at 12 PM, the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care at Thomas Jefferson University and ARTZ Philadelphia will present a free public lecture to take place on the campus of Thomas Jefferson University. Michael Verde will discuss how we can diminish the emotional isolation of people with dementia by communicating with them in ways that cognitive impairment does not impede. The event will be co-sponsored by the American Geriatric Society Interprofessional Student Chapter at Jefferson and by Jefferson Elder Care, a part of the Jefferson College of Rehabilitation Sciences.
All the events require registration in advance at: www.artzphilly.org/love-is-listening or by calling Susan Shifrin at 610-721-1606.
DETAILS:
Monday, September 23, 2019
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM EDT
I Am a Bridge: Healing the Dis-Ease of Dementia
An interactive communication workshop for healthcare providers, social workers and anyone who cares for or about a person living with dementia.
Tickets $40 – $50
Woodmere Art Museum
9201 Germantown AvenuePhiladelphia, PA 19118
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Thursday, September 26, 2019
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EDT
Public Lecture: “Re-membering Who We Are: Dementia Without Loneliness”
A talk by Michael Verde from Memory Bridge about preserving the personhood of people living with dementia through interconnection.
FREE.
Dorrance H. Hamilton Building
Thomas Jefferson University
1001 Locust Street, Room 628
Philadelphia, PA 19107
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Thursday, September 26, 2019
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM EDT
Two Films That Change the Stories We Tell About Life with Dementia
“Moment to Moment” + “Love Is Listening,” two powerful documentaries that are changing the narrative of what it means to live with dementia
Tickets: $10
Woodmere Art Museum
9201 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 191186.
To register for the event series, please visit: https://www.artzphilly.org/love-is-listening/
Information about ARTZ Philadelphia programs can be found at www.artzphilly.org