Poet Stuart Hall of Santa Fe was the featured guest artist. Myles Copeland, the Deputy Secretary of the Aging and Long -Term Services Department gave the opening remarks.
The conference was in support the New Mexico Alzheimer’s and Related Dementia State Plan, with the endorsement of the Office of New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez, the New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department, and the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs.
Other conference partnering organizations included: the Alzheimer’s Association, New Mexico Chapter; Alzheimer’s Café; Discover Your Story, Minneapolis Institute of Art; Institute of Dementia Education & Art; Lifesongs(TM)
and Vista Living Communities.
Workshops were led by Gary Glazner of the Alzheimer’s Poetry Project. Jane Tygesson of Discover Your Story taught ways to give vibrant museum tours to people living with memory loss. Alysha Shaw, program coordinator of the Santa Fe-based Lifesongs (TM), showed how the project helps people in nursing homes and hospice create original and enlightening music. Ruth Dennis, recreational director of Vista Living, and Jytte Lokvig of the Alzheimer’s Creativity Project led a hands-on art-making workshop.
NMLA President Joan Logghe and board members Anne Valley-Fox and Elizabeth Raby helped to organize the conference and register the attendees.