The Beat Of A Different Drummer

LAKE PLACID - Marjorie O'Meara has a lot to show for her 70 years.

She's positive and creative because her focus is to have fun and be happy.

For the past 35 years, O'Meara has lived in Sebring where she raised her son. In addition to being a social worker, she's a professional artist who's taught through the Highlands Art League, SFCC community art education, and had her own art gallery and studio on the downtown Circle.

For the past five years she's also been a social service assistant at Lake Placid Health Care. Her combined knowledge of the arts and working with people led her to study art therapy, which she said is the wave of the future.

"In the '60s I was a belly dancer, so I teach it now." she said.

Approved by the National Expressive Therapy Association, she's a certified practitioner and is registered with IEATA (International Expressive Arts Therapy Association.) They believe that integrative arts, combining dance, drama, music, visual arts, writing and architecture create a vital role not only in the individual, but in community development.

David Smith, administrator of the Lake Placid Health Care, was supportive of her approach. After seeing her success with the Alzheimer's unit, her programs have spread to the alert and oriented long-term residents.

Pet therapy, live musical events, drumming, games, and open visiting hours all contribute to residents' well being and growth.

When O'Meara teaches spirit collages, she starts with a stack of magazines and works in 3-5 minute phases:

Residents pick their favorite magazines, then turn pages and see what catches their eye. After they cut or tear out pictures, they glue the images on a 5x7 card. Next, they think about their creation and discuss those feelings. Each person reacts differently to color. Hidden feelings are brought out and they are encouraged to express themselves.

In O'Meara's art classes, she doesn't let them copy anything. They must use their own creativity and different types of mixed media. Their art comes from their mind and shows how they feel.

Working with the Claudia Allen Cognitive Program which sets different modes, O'Meara is able to key in and determine their level of mental thinking and note any cognitive difficulties. Passing on information to the counseling psychologist and social service director, hidden feelings can be examined and steps taken to improve or maintain long or short-term memories.

O'Meara's seen patients who had given up hope and were depressed. Participating in the art group gave them self esteem and pride. She feels it's important to feel needed, to accomplish and be recognized. That desire is never outgrown.

"Art is a spiritual thing and they've helped me more because of the joy they've given," O'Meara said.

In addition, she claims her own creativity improved and she feels younger. "Now 70 is the new 50," she said. The body is our house of clay and it's the essence of our being that shines forth. We are all spiritual beings full of life and love, and the longest journey we take is the internal. When we know and accept ourselves, we are more exciting and interesting. Ultimately, the journey is its own reward. You not only discover what excites you, but it also enables you to relate better to others.

Lake Placid Health Care uses a team approach so residents have fun, a good quality of life and a feeling of hope for the future. One program is using the popular computerized Wii. People in wheelchairs can feel like they are bowling, playing golf or tennis. O'Meara said, "It's a new way of having fun."

In her spare time, O'Meara claims practices her drumming at home, and is an American Indian enthusiast. She enjoys living naturally, painting, dancing, and reading. On a recent trip to the Yavuipai sacred lands in Arizona she hiked two miles and climbed a mountain with a shaman and his two wolf dogs. On a six-inch-wide ledge of the sheer cliff she placed her feet in embedded footprints into the cave. "I like to do inspiring, spiritual things that bring me close to the great mystery of life and I know that God is at work here," O'Meara said.