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It’s time to get a little messy

Veteran painting canvas outside
Pedro Pagan-Vargas, an Army Veteran who resides in the Community Living Center (CLC), participates in the CLC Messy Art Day event held on Sep. 16, 2022, at the VA Augusta Health Care System Uptown campus in Augusta, Georgia.

Splish, splash, pour, tie-dye – Veterans from the VA Augusta Health Care System Community Living Center took turns making a mess during the first Community Living Center (CLC) Outdoor Messy Art Day on Sep. 16, 2022.

VA Augusta Recreational and Creative Arts Therapy staff teamed up to give CLC residents a chance to express their artistic side.

“Art making is a non-verbal form of expression, which can reduce agitation, and boost moods that may result in less falls and decreased medication use,” said Michalea Jones, art therapist who helped coordinate the event. “Through the art-making process Veterans can establish a sense of accomplishment and purpose while stimulating their cognition responses and creating a positive experience.”

Recently, the VA Augusta CLC earned a 5-star rating for both quality and staffing, the highest possible scores in those categories for a VA long-term residential facility. It is the 11th straight quarter the VA Augusta senior living facility has earned a 5-star quality rating. The CLC also earned an overall 4-star rating for the third consecutive quarter, placing it among the top-rated nursing homes in the Augusta area according to Medicare nursing home data.

“VA Augusta is dedicated to delivering high-quality, compassionate care to CSRA Veterans, and the Community Living Center is a shining example of that commitment,” said VA Augusta Health Care System Executive Director Dr. Robin Jackson.

Thirteen residents participated in the event as well as several volunteers coordinated through the Center for Development and Civic Engagement.

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