Hawaii Island Adult Care (HIAC) is pleased to announce that art therapist, Lori Thal, has been awarded the Na Lima Kokua Award in the Communication/Arts category by the Hawaii Pacific Gerontological Society (HPGS) and will be honored at their upcoming conference in Honolulu.
Hawaii Island Adult Care (HIAC) is pleased to announce that art therapist, Lori Thal, has been awarded the Na Lima Kokua Award in the Communication/Arts category by the Hawaii Pacific Gerontological Society (HPGS) and will be honored at their upcoming conference in Honolulu.
Those eligible for this award are individuals who have helped to enhance the image of aging or who have promoted the field of gerontology and Lori has done so with exceptional distinction throughout her 32-year career as an art therapist.
In 1982, Thal began developing the daily activities program, including exercise, socialization, numerous cognitively stimulating and physical activities, and the creative arts, for the HIAC. Thal demonstrates the consistent ability to engage day care participants in weekly ceramics, drawing, painting and large-scale group collaborative art pieces which produce aesthetically pleasing and unique results.
Over the years, Lori has traveled around the state and internationally to share her unique talents with others. In 1997, she attended the National Conference on Aging in Beijing, China, which included visits to elder day care centers, nursing homes and hospitals.
In 2000, Thal was in Thailand to speak at Bangkok University and Mumbai, India at a girl’s school to speak about issues related to healthy aging. In 2004 and 2005, she was invited to the Wonkwang University Arts School in Korea to teach art therapy.
Thal has devoted her entire career to improving the lives of older adults through the arts. She has demonstrated a remarkable ability for leadership, a special talent for encouraging participation in creative projects, and a deep commitment to enhance the lives of all those who come in contact with her work.
Lori was born in New York City, is a University of California at Berkeley graduate and has lived in Hawaii since 1978. She holds a Masters degree in Gerontology/Art Therapy.
For more information about Hawaii Island Adult Care, contact Lizby Logsdon at 961-3747, email llogsdon@hawaiiislandadultcare.org or visit www.hawaiiislandadultcare.org.