Creative Aging at Van Mall

Sep 21, Alissa Sauer

At Van Mall, we know what it looks like to age well. We have seen our residents make important lifestyle decisions that support long-term health and wellness. An often overlooked, but important aspect of aging well is exploring creative outlets. The benefits of art for senior health and wellness is obvious. From socialization to increased communication, the arts can help people of all ages improve their quality of life.

Learn more about the benefits of the arts on seniors and how Van Mall harnesses the power of creativity to help residents age well.

Aging and the Arts

What does it mean to age well? While aging well may look different for every person, studies show that having a creative outlet is one-way seniors can age well. Providing benefits for the creator and viewer, art can affect seniors in positive ways both psychologically and physiologically. Just as physical exercise benefits our physical body, exercising creativity can enhance the quality of life and nurture overall well-being. Studies have found that creative activities have a wide range of benefits for seniors including,

• Promoting relaxation
• Providing a sense of control
• Reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety
• Increasing socialization
• Encouraging a sense of humor
• Improved cognitive abilities
• Sensory stimulation
• A stronger sense of identity
• Improved self-esteem
• Nurturing spirituality
• Reducing boredom
• Promoting self-expression
• Improved communication

Robust Arts Programming at Van Mall

For these reasons and more, Van Mall has a robust arts and crafts program. Every month, we offer over 12 different projects that appeal to all levels of artists, male and female, reaching a spectrum of abilities.

“We have a lot of fun getting to be creative and it gives us something to look forward to.” – Resident Barbara Price

We believe that every single resident is creative in his or her own way. It’s up to us to work with each resident to find the creative outlet that meets his or her needs. We have seen residents gain a sense of pride, improve hand-eye coordination, concentration, and even cognitive abilities through our arts and crafts.

Come by Van Mall and join us for our next art class! We’d love for you to join us and see how creativity plays an important role in aging well!