the vital relationship between creative expression and healthy aging
DESCRIPTION
Argentum 2016 Senior Living Executive Conference concurrent session Original session date: Wednesday, May 11, 2016, 3:30 - 4:45 PM Speaker: Janice Blanchard, MSPH, President and Founder, Aging Better TogetherTRANSCRIPT
The Vital Relationship Between Creative Expression and Health AgingJanice Blanchard | President, Aging Better Together
Chair, President’s Council, National Center for Creative Aging
Creative Expression for the Brain?
• Self-mastery
• Positive immune
system response
• Social engagement
• Brain plasticity
Gene Cohen, MD, PhDDirector, Center on Aging, Health & Humanities, George Washington University Washington, D.C.
Author, Creativity and AgingThe Mature Mind
Gene Cohen, MD, PhD
Director, Center on Aging, Health & Humanities,
George Washington University Washington, D.C.
Author, Creativity and Aging
The Mature Mind
A national arts service organization designated by the
NEA that serves the spectrum of aging through:
Capacity Building
Policy and Public Awareness
Research and Development
National Center for Creative Aging
Benefits• A national program that provides local
impact• Program crossover between other NCCA
initiatives
Features 40 states involved in a national community
of practice Monthly webinars and biweekly learning
group calls Developing a Field Guide to increase state
capacity to open access to the arts to older adults
Capacity Building: ENGAGE Initiative
• Arts Advocacy Day at the Capitol w/ Americans for the Arts
• Dementia Arts on Capitol Hill
• Thought Leader Forum on Arts & Aging
• 2005 & 2015 WHCOA Events
• 2005 & 2015 WHCOA Delegates
• Beautiful Minds
Policy & Public Awareness
• The Summit on Creativity & Aging in America (2016)
• The Arts and Aging - Building the Science (2013)
• The Arts & Human Development (2011)
• Creativity Matters: Arts and Aging in America (2008)
Research & Development
Research & Development:
• NCCA Creative Caregiving Initiative
• Directory of Creative Aging Programs in America
• NCCA Online Artist Training in Arts and Aging
• Arts & Healing at the VA
Aging Better Together
• Capacity Building for Aging in Community Projects
• Education, Training & Workshops
• Research & Program Development
• Public Policy & Advocacy
Transformation in the Arts & Aging
1. Changing Demographics
The Boomers are coming – and the caregivers are too!
2. Culture Change
Emphasis on person-centered care not institutional ease.
3. New Research
Creative engagement promotes health and quality of life.
1. Changing Demographics
• Changing Family Patterns, Living Arrangements & Life Cycle
• The “Grand Tweens”
• More “Conscious” Caregiving
• 10,000 a day @70 years
• More Diversity
• Healthier, Wealthier, Wiser, & More Demanding
• Challenging Status Quo
1. Changing Demographics
Changing physically how we age
1. Changing Demographics
2. Culture Change in the Arts
Traditional Care Settings
• Allow/passive
• Sing-a-long
• Story hour
• Arts & Crafts
• Solitary
• All Elders
• Onsite
2. Culture Change in the Arts
Person-Centered Care
Enable/active
Choir, Chorale, Music lessons
Book Club, Writing Workshops
Creative Expression/Engagement
Group Projects
Intergenerational
Onsite & in Community
3. Growing Body of Research on Creativity and Later Life
“The Aging and Creativity Study”The Impact of Professionally Conducted Cultural Programs on Older Adults
Elders Share the Arts (ESTA), Brooklyn, NY
Center for Elders & Youth in the Arts (CEYA)Institute on Aging, San Francisco, CA
The Levine School of Music,
Washington, DC
Potential National Cost Savings
There are more than 37 million Medicare D eligible persons.
Annual Medication Savings:$.08 a day x 365 = $1 Billion in yearly savings $1 a day saves $13 Billion a year.
Doctor Visit Savings:$6.3 Billion a year.
3. Growing Body of Research on Creativity and Later Life
Journal of Aging, Humanities and the Arts (2010)
“Impact of Arts Participation on Health
Outcomes for Older Adults”
Melissa Castora-Binkley, Linda Noelker, Thomas Prohaska, &
William Satariano
One year of participation in a professionally led chorale group:
used fewer over-the-counter medications
had fewer falls
fewer physician visits
higher morale
decreased loneliness
Six months of individualized piano instruction:
better scores on perceptual speed and memory tests than the control group
Selected Findings
15 weeks of jazz dance instruction:
improved balance
8 sessions of theatrical training over 4 weeks:
• improved recall, recognition, and problem solving tests
Selected Findings
3. Growing Body of Research on Creativity and Later Life
2013 Literature Review
The Gerontologist (2013)“Participatory Arts for Older Adults”
Tony Noice, Helga Noice & Arthur F. Kramer
8 studies of dance (contemporary, ballroom, choreographed):
• Improvement in posture, balance, • reaction time & gait speed • Improvement in cognitive tests• Improvement in general health
3 studies of expressive writing:
• decreased depression• improved self concept• improved processing speed, verbal
learning, and attention
Findings for 2013 Literature Review
10 studies of music (piano playing, choirs, instrumentals): decreased depression & anxiety higher nonverbal memory recall greater cognitive flexibility improved social & emotional well being increased human growth hormone
7 studies of theatre: improved cognition improved confidence & self esteem reported better health
3 studies of painting and pottery: improved mental & psycho-social health reduced negative emotions higher self esteem perceptions of life as more meaningful & enjoyable
Findings for 2013 Literature Review
Innovative Models of Creative Arts
Elders Share the Arts
Jeannie KellyFounder and Artistic Director
Judith-Kate Friedman, Founder and Director
“The trust that we have brings us home.The faith that we have brings us home.The love that we have brings us home.All, singing: “Oh how the wind can blow.Oh how the wind can blow, wow.Oh how the wind can blow—Wow!”
Gary GlaznerFounder & Ex. Director
“I have lived here a year and this is the
first time I have sat through an activity
to the end. You made us all poets.”
Ann BastingsFounder & President
He’s got long legs. Oh boy!He sure is jumping.He is into the music.His name is Jumping Joe or Jumping Jack.He is in Texas. He is on his guitar, or maybe a violin.He’s no Gene Autry, that’s for sure, but he sounds good to me.
Jennie Smith-PeersExecutive Director
Maria GennéFounder & Director
Aging + Creativity = Potential for New Growth
As I get older, I get smaller. I see other parts of the world I didn’t see before. Other points of view. I see outside myself more.
- Neil Young
Loretta’s Story
Tim CarpenterFounder, EngAge
Burbank Senior Artists Colony Burbank, CA
“To expose myself artistically was terrifying,
especially at my age.”- Suzanne Knode, 63
Suzanne’s Story
Director: Ronny NovickProducer: Tim CarpenterWriter: Susan KnodeDirector of Photography: Ronny NovickKey Cast: Gasper Hartounian, SarkisHagopian, Helen Miller
"BANDIDA" (12 min)
This American LifeSeason 1, Episode 5:
“Growth Spurt”Showtime Networks,
Ira Glass
“I really thought all of thishad just passed me by.”
- Suzanne Knode, 63
“I am sort of in shock. Something so major is happening.”
- Suzanne Knode, 63
“I didn’t think I’d be able to find something new inside of me. You know that same feeling when you got out of school and the whole world was open to you? Now, all over again, the whole world is open to me.”
-Suzanne Knode, 70
Key Ingredients for Successful Programs
Involve professional artist(s) to teach
Recruit passionate and visionary leadership
Find volunteers, especially at start-up
Partner with community organizations – e.g., schools, civic organizations, arts, music and dance organizations
Strive for outcomes that create a positive impact on elders and others in the community – e.g., build community, address social issues or improve health
Consider program(s) that span across generations & abilities
Create a sustainable business model over time
CreativeAging.org Winners of the 2014 Beautiful Minds Campaign presented by NCCA and DSM Nutritional Products
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