Creativity and Aging

retirement-living.com/bigevent

http://www.goodwinhouse.org/goodwin-house-foundation/programs/young-at-art-exhibit-show/

“What was any art but an effort to make a sheath, a mould in which to imprison for a moment the shining elusive element which is life itself--life hurrying past us and running

away, too strong to stop, too sweet to lose?”

Willa Cather, Song of the Lark

AFTA was founded in 1988 by renowned

sculptor Lolo Sarnoff

• NIA partnered on study• Nurses observed that

people with Alzheimer’s disease who were involved in arts activities showed:– Better moods– Less agitation– Positive impacts lasted even

after workshops finished

WHAT WE DO

• Deliver personalized, high quality arts experiences

• Facilitated by 12 trained teaching artists

• Designed to minimize the effects of a range of physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges

• Focusing on diverse communities of frail and vulnerable seniors.

PROGRAMS

• Healing Movement• Drawing & Painting• Music• Art History• Creative Writing• Storytelling• Expressive Arts• Poetry• Dance & Movement• Musical Theatre

SERVICE DELIVERY

• In 16 day care centers, nursing homes and community centers throughout the D.C. metropolitan area

• In Maryland - 8 (Montgomery County 5, Prince George’s County 3

• In DC – 4• In Virginia – 4• At no charge to centers in

needs of high-quality programs

National Endowment for the Arts

Creativity and Aging Study www.AFTAarts.org/newsroo

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Regular participation in professionally led arts programs can minimize the effects of age-related physical and cognitive impairments, and contribute to better physical, intellectual and emotional health.

Research shows benefits of creative activity on

longevity and overall quality of life

“Creative and mentally challenging activities can stimulate the growth of brain cells, boost the

immune system, and ward off depression.”

~ GW Medicine and Health

PROGRAM GOALS

• Increase morale and self-confidence• Improve levels of

emotional comfort• Creative expression• Develop interpersonal

relationships • Trigger reminiscence and

sharing of life-stories

How to Keep Your Brain From Aging

Wall Street Journal

Doing everyday tasks in new ways,

like writing with your non-dominant hand,

jogs the brain and can help prevent

dementia

I always like to sew So I would cut out patches of different color and put them

together in squares And still I like

to do it Now I am doing the thing that I do not

like to do and that is writing

Elsie

The skills and perspectives gained

from being able to generate [creative and artistic] ideas,

or from being better able to see and express beauty,

may enable a caregiver or an activities director

to better relate to and understand our elders

and themselves.

- Camilla BeckArt Therapist

MINK

What we want is never simple.

A mink coat would be nice,

But I am old now,

and there are not many places

I could wear it.

It was a nice dream.

But we can dream, can’t we?

Bertha

“The wonder of each person’s unique story continues to amaze me and reaffirm my own artistic journey… Sometimes when I go to a

center, I’m initially overwhelmed by the limitations of the setting and of the

participants because of their handicaps. Always when I start to interact with the

seniors, the power of our shared creative expression transforms all of us. We become

more human, more whole.”

Nancy Havlik (right)Choreographer, AFTA teaching artist