benefits, arts participation can re-open vital social avenues that might otherwise remain forever closed. “It gives us a new way to communicate as our bodies and our cognition decline and words fail us. That helps to alleviate the isolation that we now know contributes to poorer health outcomes,” she said. In the decades since Sarnoff first brought seniors into the
studio, much research has been conducted to validate her initial impressions. Some of the scientific findings help to connect the dots between arts participation and improved aging. There are also senior living organizations that have been especially proactive in their embrace of the arts and a number of community organizations working to activate creative expression in the lives of older adults. They’ve all em-
braced varying, successful processes, considered best practices and offer ideas for senior living providers looking to improve their arts integration.
The Science of Art The National Endowment for the Arts has sponsored research looking at the impact of the arts on passive observers – con- cert-goers and museum visitors, for example – as well as the effect on makers of art. “For both groups the arts have been demonstrated to show improved benefits,” said Director of Research & Analysis Sunil Iyengar. “It ranges from social and emotional benefits, to cognition, to advanced motor skills development.”
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