The Arts and Older Adults In synergy with the United Nations' Decade of Healthy Aging (2021-2030), the World Health Organization supports participatory art processes as one of the methods used to engage with older adults to better understand their needs and highlight their voices (WHO, 2023). The potential of the arts is great: "The arts inspire and touch people in unique ways on social and emotional levels, engaging the whole person. In community settings, arts activities bring older adults together and provide a vehicle for connection, purpose and meaning... In essence, teaching artists serve as catalysts for transformation at a life stage characterized by change, helping older adults discover and refine new forms of expression and engagement, meet others with similar interests and build vibrant communities, and share the fun of art-making in all its forms." (MacDonald & Campbell, Supporting Older Adults In And Through The Arts, 2024). A unique clientele, it is important for teaching artists to understand the various issues at play when designing and implementing projects with older adults, ELAN's Arts and Older Adults podcast addresses these issues, including diving into theories of aging and creative expression, the various factors at play as expressed by participants and community organizations, and feature examples of projects with older adults:
- Episode 1: Aging, Older Adults and the Arts
- Episode 2: Making Invisible Work Visible
- Episode 3: Intergenerational Listening at Avoca Bridge
For more information and evidence-based research on how the arts can benefit older adults, see the Guide to Supporting Older Adults In And Through The Arts, 2024).