Assisted living homes focus this week on art for residents

This week is National Assisted Living Week, a celebration dedicated to recognizing the people who build and work in assisted living facilities, but also the seniors that call assisted living home.

This year, the theme is “Art for the Ages.” Kathleen Leatham, administrator for the Beehive and Hawthorne House Memory care said the theme fits perfectly with the experience of their residents.

"Art is a big part of what we do and what we care about at both houses," Leatham said. "We have had a number of residents who are artists and who have shown and sold their work for years."

Leatham added that works from those artistic residents are hanging in hallways at Beehive and Hawthorne.

"We have also held art shows and receptions for local artists, which helps the artist, creates interest on our walls and adds enlightenment to our residents," Leatham said.

Leatham said the range of expression available to seniors doesn't start and stop with painting.

"The question “What is Art” is so very far reaching in terms of what art can be," Leatham said. "Anything that touches the senses, or makes us think, or uses both sides of our brains in a way we haven’t used them before. Flower arranging, the notes that wind out of a saxophone, a collage, painting, food beautifully prepared and plated, woodwork, sculpture, water flowing over rocks…the list is as endless as our creative imagination."