West Islip, NY 11795 – The “Memories in the Making” creative art program for residents living in the dementia disease care unit at Our Lady of Consolation Nursing & Rehabilitative Care Center, modeled after the same program developed by the Alzheimer’s Association, recently had its first art show and sale. All proceeds from the art, which was made entirely by program participants, are put directly back into the program to fund future art projects. The art that was sold or auctioned off at the show is the end result of weekly group projects, led by recreational therapist Christina Wicks with the assistance of volunteer Edith Pastore. The sale and auction combined raised over $350 for the program.

“Art is a universal language,” said Michele Capurso, Assistant Director of Social Services at Our Lady of Consolation. “People with dementia use art as a mode of self- expression and communication when their verbal skills begin to deteriorate,” she added.  

Our Lady of Consolation is a 450-bed nursing and rehabilitative care center conducted in the tradition of the Sisters of St. Dominic since 1894 and is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). As a member of Catholic Health Services of Long Island, Our Lady of Consolation plays an integral role in the health care delivery system of the Diocese of Rockville Centre and offers expertise in the field of long term care and sub-acute care. In addition to skilled nursing home care including geriatric care, rehabilitative care, respiratory therapy and medically complex care, Consolation offers specialized dementia disease care for individuals with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s and related dementia diseases. In addition, Consolation’s Long Term Home Health Care Program provides nursing care and other services for patients residing in their own homes in the community.  For more information about the services Our Lady of Consolation offers, please call (631) 587-1600 or visit us on the web at http://olc.chsli.org.