Active participation in the
arts can have a positive
impact on the health and
well-being of older adults
in many ways.
Better physical
health, less pain
Seniors who participated
in professionally-led arts
programs at four community
centres in Vancouver and
North Vancouver over three
years showed improved
physical health, stronger
social connections, reduced
chronic pain, increased
ability to cope with stress
and greater motivation to
maintain a healthy lifestyle,
according to a University
of British Columbia School
of Nursing study in the
Journal on Active Aging.
The Arts, Health and Seniors:
Healthy Aging Through the
Arts project (AHS), launched
by Vancouver Coastal
Health in partnership with
the Vancouver Board of
Parks and Recreation,
community groups and
artists, demonstrates the
enriching physical and
mental health benefits of
arts activities for older adults.
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RENDEZVOUS | WINTER 2018/2019
Seniors up to age 90
collaborated on a wide
range of artistic, creative
activities: writing, digital
p h oto g ra p hy, p u p p et
theatre, storytelling, dance,
painting, drawing, mixed
media arts and choral singing.
Beyond the health bene-
fits, participants reported
gaining more confidence
to learn and accomplish
new things, and enjoyment
f ro m cultivati n g a n d
expressing their creative
skills and artistic abilities.
Better
Better morale,
morale,
fewer
fewer falls
falls
The AHS project was inspired
in part by the ground-break-
ing Creativity and Aging
Study, led by geriatric
psychiatrist Gene D. Cohen
of George Washington
U n ive r sit y. H is 2 0 0 6
study in The Gerontologist
reported that older adults
who participated in arts
programs including paint-
ing, writing, poetry, jewelry
making and music had
better physical health,
fewer doctor visits, less
medication use, fewer falls,
better morale and less
loneliness than those
who didn’t.
Engaging in arts programs
has a positive health impact
by i m p rovi n g s o c i a l
networks, increasing self-
confidence and reducing
feelings of fear, anxiety and
social isolation, according
to the Arts Health Network
(AHN). Creative arts therapies
also have been shown to
reduce anxiety and tension
in cardiac and surgery
patients, and to reduce
pain and discomfort in
people suffering from a
wide range of illnesses,
reports AHN.
Just 45 minutes of creative
activity significantly lowered
cortisol levels and stress,
regardless of the person’s
artistic ability, according to
a Drexel University study.