Bringing Music and Art Social Enrichment to Older Adults

At Area Agency on Aging 3, we are celebrating 50 years of service to the community. Area Agency on Aging 3 is a non-profit that was established to provide life-span resources that inspire, educate, and empower older adults, those with disabilities, and family caregivers. We service a 19-county region, with 7 primary counties (Allen, Auglaize, Hancock, Hardin, Mercer, Putnam, and Van Wert). Being a Federal & State funded agency there are many rules on how AAA3 can spend the money received from those Federal and State Grants and unfortunately that would leave out many of the needs that people request assistance.

In 2017, the Area Agency on Aging 3 established the Silver Birch Foundation to fill the gaps of those in the community that have nowhere else to go in times of need and crisis. The foundation helps by providing funding opportunities, to not only help them fix or purchase what they need, but to also create a sense of safety and healing.

Each year in our seven-county service area there are an estimated 4,300 cases of elder abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation.  These crimes total in number more than injuries due to falls, new cases of cancer, or elders injured in car crashes.  The crimes are often perpetrated by caregivers or those close to the older adult.  Yet most cases of abuse are never reported, and the victims do not get the assistance they need.

We understand that being a victim of crime or abuse can be traumatic and a life-changing experience. We want to help those individuals in the process of recovery and getting back their independence.

Our Awakenings and Stages Behavioral Health Programs offers short term counseling services for individuals that are 60 years of age and over. Stages Behavioral Health can assist individuals who are dealing with depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, life transitions, crisis counseling, and overcoming stress.

In 2023 we were excited to create an art and music therapy group through our Awakenings and Stages Behavioral Health Programs. Awakenings Care Coordinator, Anna Hairston, MSW facilitated the "Beyond the Canvas" art group and Jacqueline Carver, LISW-S, our Clinical Director of Mental & Behavioral Health Services, facilitated the "Rhythmic Reflections" music group.  Many times, when we are doing a counseling session it is hard to get our community members to open-up or start discussions about their pain or grief. Research has been done to prove that doing music or art therapy relaxes a person which will allow them to build trust and confidence enabling them to talk openly. These groups were created to help Older Adults (60 and older), those with Disabilities, and Family Caregivers to have “free” socialization, a “safe” place to talk, and to open-up with others who have similar life-experiences.

Ann Carroll, our Fund Development Coordinator, had spoken to Jacqueline Carver, LISW-S, our Clinical Director of Mental & Behavioral Health Services, to see where Ann could assist with such an important program. The needs were many as Federal and State funding only covers a small portion of the program and so many community members miss out on receiving the help or socialization that they may need or benefit from.

Ann then spoke to a few community members that she knew and was advised to speak to Jim Link, CPA- Clerk of Courts in Lima, who is also a family friend. Jim was a pivotal part of helping others at AAA3 & Silver Birch by suggesting Ann apply for a couple of Grants that she was not aware of, which was the Midwest Electric’s Community Connection Fund and the Lima Eagles #370. Each month, Midwest Electric’s participating member's electric bills are rounded up to the next highest dollar and the extra pennies are deposited into the Midwest Electric Community Connection Fund. Then quarterly, the Community Connection Fund Board of Trustees reviews grant applications and awards funds to charitable groups and worthy individuals throughout West Central Ohio. The Fraternal Order of Eagles is an international non-profit organization uniting fraternally in the spirit of liberty, truth, justice, and equality, to make human life more desirable by lessening its ills and promoting peace, prosperity, gladness and hope. The F.O.E. donates more than $10 million a year to local communities, fundraisers, charities and more. As part of its philosophy, the F.O.E. gives back 100 percent of monies raised in the form of grants. Fundraisers are conducted for eight major charities, including kidney, heart, diabetes, cancer and spinal cord injury funds, a children's fund, memorial foundation and the Golden Eagle Fund. Ann was able to apply for both Grants and in November of 2023 was awarded a check for $500 and a check for $2900 respectfully to assist in buying supplies for Individual and Group Therapy Programs. We were truly grateful to receive these awards.

In April 2024, our Awakenings Department began their new socialization groups.

In October of 2024, Ann received a message from our Awakenings Care Coordinator, Anna Hairston, MSW, the talented leader of the “Beyond the Canvas” Art Group. After she had conducted a beautiful art group session on October 30th, she was given a wonderful “Thank You” from an attendee named Debra which stated;

"In June there was a notice about a group that met to do art projects. I called to see if I could come and join them. I like to find things to keep me busy since I am alone. It gets me out of the house and helps (me) to make friends. I really enjoy arts and crafts. I like going and doing new things with others. The people are nice and it's a lot of fun. I always look forward to our next get together. It keeps my mind busy. It is a good time for all. I would encourage others to join the group because it's entertaining." - Debra

Debra is just one of many community members that are taking advantage of these wonderful Group Sessions at Area Agency on Aging 3 and its Silver Birch Foundation. We are truly blessed to be able to touch the lives of others in our 19-county region with help from community businesses and providers like Midwest Electric’s Community Connection Fund.

Feel free to make referrals to our groups:  Clinical Director of Mental & Behavioral Health Outreach Services at 567-825-2349 or Awakenings Program Care Coordinator at 419-879-2392

Just one of the many art projects from “Beyond the Canvas"