ARTS IMPROVING THE AGING PROCESS Among seniors who participated in the


arts either as observers or makers, “they had higher levels of cognitive functioning and lower levels of daily physical issues. They also had lower rates of hypertension,” he said. “The research tends to show that the arts play a decidedly positive effect.” NEA documented this in a 2017 report,


“Staying Engaged: Health Patterns of Old- er Americans Who Engage in the Arts,” which offers a detailed look at arts partici- pation habits, attitudes toward the arts, and related health characteristics of adults age 55 and older, as documented by University of Michigan researchers. Some of their key findings may come as


a surprise. For example - fully 84 percent of those surveyed say they either create art or attend arts events. Of these, 64 percent create art of their own, 68.7 percent have attended arts events, and 48.6 percent both created and attended. Seniors care about art – 63.8 percent say


they arts are important – and they believe that art engagement improves their quality of life: 54.9 percent say it helps to keep them active and engaged. As to health benefits, older adults who both


created art and attended arts events reported higher cognitive functioning and lower rates of hypertension. Their cognitive functioning scores were seven-fold higher than for adults who did neither type of arts activity. A recent study from the Mayo Clinic


validates these findings among the very- old adults. In this case researchers looked at 256 people in their mid- to late-80s to see which activities predicted or protected against cognitive impairment late in life. The behavior with the greatest protective effect: “Artistic activity,” such as painting, drawing, and sculpting. Participants who reported they were


artists were significantly less likely to suffer from incidents of cognitive impairment than those who never created art or music. Those who kept creating in their later years did especially well, with just a 16.7 percent rate of mild cognitive impairment, compared to a significant 49.2 percent among those who were not engaged in artistic activities. It’s possible of course to question the


causality. Does art make us healthier? Or are healthier people more likely to be able to


Teaching Artist Deborah Riley (left), explores the Joy of Movement, in her AFTA workshops, pictured here with participants at Longbranch Community Center in Silver Spring, Md. Photo credit: AFTA.


take part in creative endeavors? There’s still much to be learned, but some researchers point to physical mechanisms that could help to explain how arts engagement does in fact promote wellness. “Neurological research shows that mak- ing art can improve cognitive functions by producing both new neural pathways and thicker, stronger [nerve cells],” writes Barba- ra Bagan, professor of expressive arts therapy at Ottawa University in Phoenix, Ariz., in the journal “Today’s Geriatric Medicine.” “Thus, art enhances cognitive reserve,


helping the brain actively compensate for pathology by using more efficient brain networks or alternative brain strategies,” she notes. “Making art or even viewing art causes the brain to continue to reshape, adapt, and restructure, thus expanding the potential to increase brain reserve capacity.” All of this academic work only serves to


bear out what artists have long suspected, and what many in senior living have believed. “Those of us who are involved in the arts


always knew it was good for you. We could see the effects of it, see how it broke down barriers,” said Ed Friedman, executive di- rector of the nonprofit Lifetime Arts, which seeks to enrich the lives of older adults


38 SENIOR LIVING EXECUTIVE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019


through arts education. “The research gives us some science to back it up.” With that knowledge, a number of senior


living operators have taken steps to leverage artistic expression in support of resident wellness. The breadth of arts activities in senior living is wide, from simple afternoon crafts activities to more structured, formal programs of engagement. Much will de- pend on resident ability and acuity. Still, looking across diverse efforts, some common themes may begin to emerge.


Successful Senior Living Programming For senior living communities looking to deepen their arts offerings, the effort often will begin with an outside partnership. Brandywine Living at Haverford Estates,


for example, teamed with the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts to create a 10- week program called “My Life Story.” Led by an art therapist, the program encourages residents to give visual expression to their memories, and culminates with an art exhi- bition for family and friends. Silverado Orchard Park, in Illinois, took


a similar approach, Administrators there, including Dr. Borna Bonakdarpour, Med-


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