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Commonwealth Council on Aging 2024 Best Practices Award Winners
The Commonwealth Council on Aging is pleased to announce the winners of the 2024 Best Practices Awards.
FIRST PLACE
FIRST PLACE AWARD ($5,500):
The Opening Minds through Art (OMA) Center at The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen (CACGA)
Developed through research at the Scripp's Gerontology Center at Miami University and reproduced across the country, Opening Minds through Art (OMA) is an award-winning, evidence-based, intergenerational art-making program for people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias (PWD). The failure-free program provides opportunities for creative self-expression and social engagement for PWD, while providing volunteers with opportunities to improve their attitudes toward aging through weekly interaction with OMA participants. Originally designed to take place in care facilities, CACGA has implemented a center-based program that also includes caregivers. CACGA's OMA Center is offered in 8-week sessions during which "Elder Artists" are paired with specially trained volunteers who assist the Elder Artist in cart-making projects that feature the OMA methodology and key principles. Through CACGA, this program is open to any family dealing with a dementia diagnosis and is offered free-of-charge to participants. Since starting the program in 2022, CACGA has trained over 125 volunteers and has had about 50 participants complete the program.
SECOND PLACE
SECOND PLACE AWARD ($3,500): The Art, Leisure, and Recreation Program from Richmond Aging and Engaging
Richmond Aging and Engaging (RAE) provides intergenerational arts, leisure, and recreation activities to support the health, wellness, and quality of life of older adults living independently in low-income senior apartment buildings. Programming is provided on a weekly basis in the buildings where participants live. The programming is flexible and adaptable to meet the unique interests and needs of residents in each building served and is guided by feedback from participant advisory committees. Activities may include physical games (e.g., balloon pickleball, cornhole, bowling), crafting (e.g., crochet, weaving, clay sculpting, card-making), and social/cognitive games (e.g., charades, family feud, bingo, board games, cards). Additionally, the award-winning and evidence-based Opening Minds through Art (OMA) is implemented yearly at each site and concludes with a community art exhibition, with previous work even featured in statewide art exhibits. Local college students assist in leading the activities and engaging with participants. These intergenerational experiences foster social connectedness and promote a more vibrant and inclusive society. In a year, Richmond Aging and Engaging has served 46 residents across three buildings with the support of 49 college student volunteers. Richmond Aging and Engaging aims to expand to more buildings in 2024.
THIRD PLACE
THIRD PLACE AWARD ($2,500):
The Audio Accessibility and Inclusion Program from Virginia Voice
Virginia Voice focuses on providing access and inclusion for those with blindness and low vision to the same everyday community engagements their sighted peers enjoy. The Radio Reading Service features volunteer-led readings of print materials, such as local newspapers, national media, and topical programming on subjects such as pet care and gardening, via radio, smart speaker, and online streaming 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. The Live Audio Description (LAD) of events provide real-time audio descriptions of visual aspects that are key to the enjoyment and understanding of local arts performances, such as the theatre and ballet, as well as for community events. Through LAD, Virginia Voice partners with area museums to record audio descriptions of current exhibitions and with local businesses that need to provide audio described information for their employees and customers. Virginia Voice supports a community of 11,000 Central Virginians with blindness and low vision, 80% of whom are adults 65 and older with medical diagnoses that impact their vision who often experience isolation. Nearly 73% of our listeners say that Virginia Voice's services make them feel more connected to the Richmond metro community, and 81% say Virginia Voice helps to alleviate their social isolation.
The Council gave honorable mentions to the following organizations:
- Arlington Neighborhood Village
- Loudoun County Area Agency on Aging (AAA)/Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS) for The AAA Rhythm Makers
- Southern Area Agency on Aging’s Volunteer Driver Program
To view a copy of the 2024 press release, click here. To learn more about the winning and honorable mention programs and how to contact them, click here.
The Council has recognized organizations as examples of best practices since 2006. A list of these organizations and a brief overview of their programs can be found for 2017-2023 and 2006-2016.
With the sponsorship from Dominion Energy ($10,000) and AARP Virginia ($1,500), the Council is pleased to offer monetary awards to the winners.
This year, the First Place program received $5,500, the Second Place program received $3,500, and the Third Place program received $2,500.
Boards, Councils, and Commissions - Background
The Aging Programs within the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services has three advisory boards. Pursuant to Virginia Code § 2.2-2100, advisory boards provide advice and comment to an executive branch agency or office. An advisory board, commission or council serves as a formal liaison between the agency or office and the public to ensure that the agency or office understands public concerns and that the activities of the agency or office are communicated to the public. An advisory board, commission or council does not serve a regulatory or rule-making purpose. It may participate in the development of public policy by providing comment and advice.
The advisory boards meet quarterly and all meetings are open to the public. View directions to DARS Office for Aging Services.
Upcoming Meetings can be found on the Commonwealth Calendar. You can search by date or by keyword.
Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Commission
Established pursuant to § 51.5-154 of the Code of Virginia, the ADRD Commission develops and oversees the implementation of the Commonwealth's Dementia State Plan. Among the Commission’s duties and activities are to:
Established pursuant to § 51.5-154 of the Code of Virginia, the ADRD Commission develops and oversees the implementation of the Commonwealth's - Examine the needs of persons with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders, as well as the needs of their caregivers, and ways that state government can most effectively and efficiently assist in meeting those needs;
- Develop and promote strategies to encourage brain health and reduce cognitive decline;
- Advise the Governor and General Assembly on policy, funding, regulatory, and other issues related to Alzheimer's disease and related disorders;
- Develop the Commonwealth's plan for meeting the needs of patients with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders and their caregivers, and advocate for such plan; and
- Establish priorities for programs among state agencies related to Alzheimer's disease and related disorders and criteria to evaluate these programs.
More Information:
Powers, Duties & Bylaws
Reports
Members
Dementia State Plan
Previous Electronic Meetings
Upcoming Meetings:
- Tuesday, March 12, 2024
- Tuesday, June 11, 2024
- Tuesday, September 17, 2024
- Tuesday, December 10, 2024
You can find agendas and minutes from past meetings on our SharePoint site. You can also select a committee below to see just that committee's documents.
For Questions:
George Worthington
Dementia Services Coordinator
Phone: (804) 662-9154
Commonwealth Council on Aging
Established pursuant to §§ 51.5-127 and 51.5-128 of the Code of Virginia, the CCOA promotes an efficient, coordinated approach by state government to meeting the needs of older Virginians. The CCOA supports communities that are accessible, livable, age-friendly, and promote independence. Among its duties and activities, the CCOA:
Established pursuant to §§ 51.5-127 and 51.5-128 of the Code of Virginia, the CCOA promotes an efficient, coordinated approach by state government to meeting the needs of older Virginians. The CCOA supports communities that are accessible, livable, age-friendly, and promote independence. Among its duties and activities, the CCOA:- Examines the needs of older Virginians and their caregivers and ways in which state government can most effectively and efficiently assist in meeting those needs;
- Advises the Governor and General Assembly on aging issues and aging policy;
- Advocates for and assists in developing the Commonwealth's planning for meeting the needs of the growing number of older Virginians and their caregivers; and
- Assists and advises the Department regarding strategies to improve nutritional health, alleviate hunger, and prevent malnutrition among older adults.
More Information:
Powers, Duties & Bylaws
Reports
Members
Previous Electronic Meetings
Annual Best Practices Awards
Upcoming Meetings:
- Wednesday, March 1, 2024 – Best Practices Awards Committee
- Wednesday, April 17, 2024
- Wednesday, July 17, 2024
- Wednesday, September 18, 2024
You can find agendas and minutes from past meetings on our SharePoint site. You can also select a committee below to see just that committee's documents.
For Questions:
Charlotte Arbogast
Policy Analyst
Phone: (804) 662-7093
Virginia Public Guardian and Conservator Advisory Board
Established pursuant to § 51.5-149.1 of the Code of Virginia, the VPGCAB reports to and advises the Commissioner of DARS on the Virginia Public Guardian and Conservator Program (VPGCP). The VPGCAB: Assists in the coordination and management of the local and regional programs appointed to act as public guardians and conservators:
- Provides advice and counsel on the provision of high-quality guardianship service and avoidance of conflicts of interest;
- Promotes the mobilization of activities and resources of public and private sector entities to effectuate the purposes of this [Code of Virginia] article; and
- Makes recommendations regarding appropriate legislative and executive actions.
More Information:
Powers, Duties & Bylaws Reports Previous Electronic Meetings
Upcoming Meetings:
- Tuesday, March 26, 2024
- Tuesday, June 18, 2024
- Tuesday, September 10, 2024
- Tuesday, November 26, 2024
You can find agendas and minutes from past meetings on our SharePoint site. You can also select a committee below to see just that committee's documents.
For Questions:
Laura Koch
Director, Public Guardian & Conservator Program
Phone: (804) 588-3989
Staff Directory
