CREATIVE  HEARTS

OUR APPROACH
Meet Every Participant Where They Are: We believe every person deserves to be seen, heard, and valued. We meet participants with dementia in their moment, honor their experiences and reality, and focus on creating joy, comfort and meaningful interactions. 

Empathy in Action: We take time to get to know each participant and learn about their interests, experiences, and personality. By listening with patience and adapting each activity, we create an environment where everyone feels comfortable participating. 

Creativity Without Limits:  Art can communicate feelings, thoughts and memories in ways that words sometimes cannot. Our projects are designed to be flexible and accessible so that seniors of all abilities can create, explore, and express themselves.

Dementia Advocacy: Dementia may affect memory, but it does not take away a person's creativity, imagination, or need for connection. Instead of focusing on limitations, we celebrate each person's strengths and create opportunities for them to express themselves, connect with their community, and experience the joy of creative expression.

OUR PARTNERS & COMMUNITY IMPACT

Creative HeARTS partners with memory care, assisted living, and senior living communities to make creative, intergenerational programming accessible to residents living with dementia. Together, we create welcoming spaces where seniors, students, families, and caregivers can connect through art, reducing social isolation, and strengthening community.

OUR IMPACT
Creative HeARTS has grown and made an impact through:

• People Reached: 1,000+ seniors and memory care residents served through 60 student-led art workshops. 

• Community Impact:  1,000+ volunteer service hours and $12,800+ raised to expand Creative HeARTS programs. 

• Innovation: Launched the Creative HeARTS Senior Summer Art Camp, a five-day arts program for seniors in memory care and assisted living. 

• Outcomes: After five workshops, 37% of surveyed seniors reported improved well-being, and 28% reported improved short-term memory. 

• Research Outcome: Earned a university neuroscience research internship investigating sex-based differences in mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and cognitive health, reflecting our commitment to advancing brain health and cognitive well-being. 

• Global Reach:  22,000+ online views across audiences in 30+ countries. 

RECOGNITION

Our youth-led team has earned national and international recognition for our community impact. 

• Awarded the Dementia Society of America's Ginny Gives® Award 

• Earned the U.S. Congressional Gold & Silver Medals 

• Named Finalists in the UK Dementia Care Awards 

• Awarded the Congressional Challenge Coin 

• Recognized by the California State Assembly for community impact

• Awarded Second Place for Behavioral Science Research on Older Adults

• Featured In: People Magazine, San Diego Union-Tribune, UK Care Talk Magazine, Medium, Dementia Spring, and San Diego Voyager