She has seen this dynamic play out effec-
tively in senior living communities where residents may have appeared isolated or disconnected. “We may come into a com- munity where individuals aren’t talking or in- teraction with one another, and then there’s a sense of togetherness that arises as people interact and encourage each other,” she said. Tursini tries to be clear about the goals
of her programs, to ensure that both the seniors and the community administrators have a realistic expectation of what an arts engagement can bring to residents and to the community. “The goal is to teach people that art-mak-
ing can give form to their inner ideas, to their thoughts and experiences. It’s a way to ignite the desire for self-expression,” she said. “It also triggers social and cognitive engagement. It gives people a sense of control and empowerment at a time when they be losing some of their more familiar abilities around mobility or cognition.” In the big picture, art-making is a creative
A senior engages in arts activities at Sanford Vermillion Medical Center. Photo credit: Sanford Vermillion She’s learned in her experiences with
memory-impaired individuals, a delicate balance may be required, as one attempts to stimulate new physical and mental expe- riences via the arts. On the one hand, “you need enough time for it to be satisfying and give a sense of completion,” she said. “But there’s a tipping point when people get exhausted. So I am always looking for that fine line.” It’s worth the effort, though, given the
profound life-affirming end result. For those in senior living, Albright sees big returns on any investment of time and effort made in the direction of artistic engagement. “It’s inherently part of the human experience to be creative,” she said. “The programming that I develop and the training I share is based on the notion that making things – and making things as a community – in- herently supports wellness. The people who are in assisted living, who are in memory units, they have all been a part of a commu- nity in the past. This can be a way to keep those connections.”
A Communications Tool At Arts for the Aging, Janine Tursini points to “Moving Art” as a typical program, one that encourages personal participation; that engages both body and mind; that fosters group interactions. In this program a choreographer and a
museum educator will meet and introduce seniors to 20th Century art. “They show im- ages and talk about the theories that the artists used. Then they might have people create movement responses, and also drawings, in response to what they have learned,” she said. The focus is on the creative experience, with little emphasis put on the aesthetic quality of the outcomes. “It isn’t about being an artist. It is about using the arts to com- municate in a new way,” Tursini said. “The seniors may tell their life stories through the art-making process or share their personal anecdotes. As people make art they relax and talk to one another, they support and encourage each other. All of that creates a person-centered feeling of wholeness, where each person feels that what they have to con- tributed is valid and appreciated.”
exercise, and creativity can be a formidable tool for those who struggle to make their way through the world with limited physical or cognitive resources. “The use of imagination is incredibly
freeing when we experience memory loss,” Tursini said. “We don’t have to remember all our stories or even how to tie our shoes. We still have our ability to make something up, to invent stories. That creative ability never disappears and it can be very freeing during times when you can’t remember. It’s about being present and being in the moment, which for some people is everything when you aren’t functioning the way you used to.”
Getting Started Even with the best intentions, activity di- rectors and other senior living leaders may find it challenging to implement these same strategies among their residents. The arts can be intimidating and seniors with little or no experience may be reluctant to get started. It’s worth taking a close look at some specific tactics and strategies for implementation. Molson tries to ease her seniors into arts
activities. “People have their inhibitions: They don’t want to do it wrong, they don’t want be different from everyone else,” she said. “When we are approaching art, I take a
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