Gene Cohen, MD, PhD, director of the Center on Aging, Health and Humanities at George Washington University, found that the arts have a positive effect on health and illness as we age. An aesthetic experience is one in which the senses are operating at their peak, when you are present in the current moment, when you are resonating with the excitement of this thing that you are experiencing, when you are fully alive.” The Positive Effects of Art as We Age

He says, “The arts address the idea of an aesthetic experience. It gives voice to the knowledge inside us about what we need to find our joy.Īrtistic expression can be enjoyed in a variety of forms such as:Īccording to Sir Ken Robinson, an internationally recognized leader in the development of creativity, innovation and human resources, one of the most engaging features of the creative process is that it facilitates moments of vitality and connection for those who choose to participate in it. It has intrinsic value and connects us to others by sharing a story. “The arts enable us to express what we experience in life and to share its special moments in uniquely personal ways.” Artistic Expression Gives Voice to What We See and FeelĪs noted by the Joyful Heart Foundation, creative expression enables us to communicate our inner selves to the world around us. Or as William Shakespeare so eloquentlystated, ‘Joy’s soul lies in the doing.’ As they say, the joy is in the journey and not necessarily the final destination. “The enjoyment of various art forms is in the creating and the opportunity for self-expression, not in the ‘artistic merit’ of the final product.

“One of the wonderful things about art is that you don’t have to be an artist to enjoy it and to appreciate its many benefits,” says Scott Richardson, Senior Director of Resident Services at Williamsburg Landing, a leading continuing care retirement community in Williamsburg, VA. Whether it’s viewing art in a museum or taking simple pleasure in placing brush to canvas, art has a way of liberating our need for self-expression by communicating in ways that words cannot always describe.Īs experts in healthy aging confirm, expressing ourselves through art is not just good for the soul, it is also very beneficial to our minds and bodies.Ĭreative artistic pursuits provide older adults with multiple benefits, not the least of which is enhanced cognitive function.

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