What is Senior Summer Art Camp from Creative Hearts Art Therapy, and how did it come to be?
Senior Summer Art Camp was a week-long art camp exclusively for seniors. This innovative initiative aimed to provide daily creative engagement for older adults, including those with dementia and Alzheimer’s. Over the course of 5 days, 2 separate camps were run: one for residents in assisted living and another for those in memory care at a senior community in Southern California. The experience offered more than 10 hours of hands-on workshops, featured 6 unique art projects, and welcomed 100 enthusiastic participants.
Taking place in July 2025, each day featured a unique art project designed to engage participants of all abilities. The program incorporated a range of materials, including paint, wood, rocks, ceramic pots, and dried flowers, and a variety of techniques, including watercolor, collage, and mixed media. We prepared adaptive versions of each activity to ensure every participant could create with confidence and independence.
This week-long event was curated and executed by Creative Hearts Art Therapy, the nonprofit I founded in 2024, at 15 years old. Today, it operates with the support of my brother, Alexander, who helps in running workshops, creating art installations to showcase artwork made by seniors in community centers, and tracking all the nonprofit’s metrics and finances.
Who initially inspired you to grapple with dementia?
Creative Hearts Art Therapy was created in honor of our 4 grandparents who lived with dementia over a span of 15 years. During this time, we gained a close understanding of how dementia transforms a person, alters their care needs, and significantly impacts caregivers, in our case, our parents.
We witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by individuals with dementia in communicating, the frustration they experience due to bodily changes beyond their control, and their overall sense of helplessness and increased need to rely on others. We observed that art offers a safe outlet for seniors to express themselves when words may be difficult, particularly for older adults dealing with isolation or memory difficulties. We quickly observed how art provides a source of joy, accomplishment, community and connection.
How has working on dementia-related programming changed you?
Working on dementia-related programming has changed how we view creativity, connection and purpose. It has shown us the power of art and empathy to reach people beyond memory or words. We’ve learned how to support seniors and their communities, and how to build a nonprofit that makes a positive difference. The most rewarding moments are seeing participants light up with pride when they create something they once thought impossible, and hearing how these workshops bring them joy, confidence, and a renewed sense of self.
Through our workshops with seniors, especially those experiencing cognitive decline, we’ve seen the power of creativity and intergenerational connection. These activities positively impact seniors’ well-being, foster a sense of belonging in their community, and ensure their voices and creativity are seen, heard and celebrated.
How was Senior Summer Art Camp received?
The response from participants was overwhelmingly positive. Seniors eagerly looked forward to each new day, asking, “What are we making tomorrow?” or wishing “art camp could be every day.”
For 1 participant, who wishes she didn’t have to depend on caregivers for most of her daily routine, the camp became something deeply personal. “I like art camp because it’s something I can do on my own,” she shared.
Calling it “summer camp” which is usually associated with children, made them feel youthful. Seniors proudly told their family, “I’m going to summer camp!” Another participant mentioned, “My caregiver cried when she saw the card I made for her in art camp.” Overwhelmingly, management and residents responded positively to Senior Summer Art Camp.
In its first year, Creative Hearts held over 29 workshops with 355 participants, partnered with 3 senior care facilities, engaged a social media audience in 22 countries, received several volunteer leadership awards, and was featured in multiple articles. By offering free, engaging art workshops to seniors in assisted living and memory care communities, Creative Hearts Art Therapy seeks to provide opportunities for creative expression, meaningful connections, joy, intergenerational companionship, and a renewed sense of purpose to seniors in a supportive environment—one art workshop at a time.
This work is dedicated to: Eric, Judith, Ann and Carrie.
Find more from Creative Hearts Art Therapy on its website or on Instagram.
