Until my dad's last days, at age 88, he'd pick up a paint brush and paint. He was no Picasso or Monet, but he was never about final product. He said art connected him to nature in an intimate way. He learned to slow down and observe the world around him. Each new painting was adventure in creative expression. When my father was painting he was happy, at peace with the aging process, and he was fulfilled.
I see the same response among residents living at Covenant Village of Colorado. Regardless of their age - from 60-something to 90-something -- those who participate in our Readers' Theater or chime making classes; those who kick up their heels during a line dancing program or put words to paper during a poetry or memoir class, reap the benefits of challenging their minds and their bodies and embracing their creativity.
The Creativity and Aging Study directed by Gene D. Cohen, M.D., Ph.D., a gerontologist at George Washington University, found those people over the age of 65 who participated in weekly art programs reported better health, fewer doctor visits, less medication, more positive mental health measures, and more involvement in daily activities. Cohen, who died in 2009, was an advocate for the physical and mental benefits of creativity for older adults.
Research continues to support the suggestion that "aging artfully" is good for the mind and the body. What better time to embrace your inner artists than when you retire? With the gift of time and plenty of local resources (see below), you can learn an instrument, take a photography class, paint, write a memoir, or dance like no one is watching.
Engaging in the arts can help you relax, feel calmer and happier; lower stress and anxiety; form new connections with others; cope with loss or grief, and experience a sense of accomplishment and pleasure.
For those with dementia or Alzheimer's disease, researchers are finding the arts can help improve quality of life. The Alzheimer's Association offers Memories in the Making, a painting class that encourages persons with dementia or Alzheimer's disease to express themselves through brush and paint. The simple, and sometimes not so simple process of painting triggers long ago memories in the person while they put images onto paper. The results are stunning, and the person leaves a lasting legacy for loved ones through vibrant colors and images.
Covenant Village of Colorado offers the P.E.A.C.E. program (Parkinson's Exploring Art and Creative Experiences) to those with Parkinson's and other movement disorders. You don't need to be a resident to participate. Participants use watercolor media in a relaxed, friendly setting. One participant commented that her tremors tend to settle down while painting. She is focused on the process of creating and not the disease, which created a sense of peace and well-being. Other participants in the class readily agreed that the class has been beneficial.
Don't have creative bone in your body? Even those with two left feet or those who can't draw a stick figure can reap the benefits from creative expression. Here are some resources to help you get started:
Denver Art Museum - (720) 865-5000 Mitzel Arts and Culture Center - (303) 316-6360, press 2 Arapahoe Community College - (303) 797-5722 Denver School of Photography - (303) 780-9709 Alzheimer's Association - (303) 813-1669
from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.comhttp://westminsterwindow.com/stories/Learning-to-become-master-in-the-art-of-aging,225106?branding=15
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