Gay Hanna, PhD, MFA Executive Director National Center for Creative Aging Ace Everett, MBA Director...

Gay Hanna, PhD, MFAExecutive Director

National Center for Creative Aging

Ace Everett, MBA

Director

NCCA Arts & Aging Local ExchangeNVAN

November 18, 2014

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National Center for Creative Aging

A national service organization dedicated to fostering the vital relationship between creative expression and healthy aging.

● Research

● Policy

● Practice

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“What has been universally denied is the potential. The ultimate expression of potential is creativity.” – Dr. Gene Cohen

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Creativity and Aging Research

Research Indicators:

• Social engagement

• Mastery

Findings

• Better health• Less doctor visits• Less medication• Increase in activities and social engagement• Projected Health Care Costs Savings:

$.08/day = $1 billion/year in Medicare D

REFERENCE

Cohen, Gene D., Susan Perlstein, Jeff Chapline, Jeanne Kelly, Kimberly Firth, and Samuel Simmens. “The Impact of Professionally conducted Cultural Programs on the Physical Health, Mental Health and Social Functioning of Older Adults.” The Gerontologist 46, no. 6 (2006): 726-734

Helga Noice, Ph.D. & Tony Noice MFA

2010 Dr. Gene D. Cohen Research Award in Creativity and Aging Winners

Acting/ Cognitive Improvement

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Barry Bittman, MD.2011 Dr. Gene D. Cohen Research Award in Creativity and Aging Winner

Recreational Music Making/Caregiver Stress Reduction

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Bruce Miller, MD. 2012 Dr. Gene D. Cohen Research Award in Creativity and Aging Winner

Visual Arts/ Diagnois Frontal Lobe Dementia

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Nina Kraus, Ph.D.2013 Dr. Gene D. Cohen Research Award in Creativity and Aging Winner

Professional Music Making/Auditory Improvement

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Rita Charon, MD., Ph.D.2014 Dr. Gene D. Cohen Research Award in Creativity and Aging Winner

Narrative Medicine

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16Conclusions!

Coming up

• May 18th White House Mini Conference on Creativity and Aging in America

• May 19th & 20th NCCA Leadership Exchange - Research, Practice, Business

• May 21st NCCA Professional Development Institute

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Enhancing Healthy Aging through Arts

Participation

Encourage social engagement Improve health outcomes

Enhance quality of life

Research reveals the positive benefits among older adults participating in arts experiences.

Music and art stimulate the brain in the areas that Alzheimer’s cannot touch, bypassing the debilitating disease and often providing relief.

Cohen, 2006

Learning jazz dance can improve balance in older women, whose main cause of injuries is falls.

Alpert et al, 2009

Using strategies of personal actors (like getting into character and constant rehearsal) have been shown to improve memory test scores of older adults.

Noice and Noice, 1999

Credit: Gene Carl Feldman for Arts for the Aging

Credit: Stephanie Williams for Arts for the Aging

Credits: Stephanie Williams & Emily Wathen for Arts for the Aging

Enhance healthy aging through arts participation in the District of Columbia.

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4125 Albemarle St., NW,Washington, DC 20016202-895-9456info@creativeaging.org