What is Creative Aging?
Creative aging explores the vital relationship between creative expression and healthy aging.
Based on research by geriatric psychiatrist and aging authority, Dr. Gene Cohen, it has been documented that older persons participating in varied, structured creative arts programs conducted by professional artists will over a designated period of time show significant improvements among a variety of social, behavioral, mental health, general health, and quality of life measures, than older persons not participating in such creative arts programs.
In fact, those participants who stayed creatively engaged experienced significantly better overall health, significantly fewer falls, and significantly fewer visits to the doctors.
Contrary to long-held beliefs that brain power inevitably declines with age, the mind actually experiences a surge of creativity and brain function well into the second half of life. Dr. Cohen states in his book, The Creative Age”, “What gerontology is increasingly showing us is that later life can be an especially creative age”.
“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at 20 or 80. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.”
~Henry Ford
“People are always asking me when I'm going to retire. Why should I? I've got it two ways - I'm still making movies, and I'm a senior citizen, so I can see myself at half price.”
~George Burns
The Clearwater Chorus
The Clearwater Chorus, the official adult chorus of Ruth Eckerd Hall, performs a variety of styles from classical to pop and has appeared at the Hall each year since its opening. The 2009-2010 season included two exciting Main Stage concerts, as well as other off-site community performances for the Clearwater Chorus.
How is the Hoffman Institute involved?
The Marcia P. Hoffman Performing Arts Institute at Ruth Eckerd Hall was designated by the National Center for Creative Aging as one of four organizations across the country to develop a community-based initiative that uses arts programming to increase the quality of life of older adults. The Hoffman Institute initiated a county-wide effort to create a network among aging services, government, arts organizations and community members for planning purposes. The intent of the network is to introduce potential community partners, identify resources, and form strategies to increase programs and services for persons 55-plus for lifelong learning in the arts. A collaboration was formed and is known as The Partners for Creative Aging in Pinellas County.
Who are the Partners for Creative Aging in Pinellas County?
The Partners for Creative Aging in Pinellas County is a collaboration of arts, aging services, government, education, and community members who share an interest in raising public awareness about the benefits of creative aging programs.
Together, they share a ~
VISION
• Through greater opportunities to engage in the arts, Pinellas County’s older adults will stay more physically, mentally, and socially active and enjoy an increased ability to thrive, function, and therefore age in place.
MISSION
• To promote collaboration between the Arts and Aging Services to enhance the health and well-being of Pinellas County’s older adults.
PCAPC
The following organizations and individuals are members of the collaborative: Area Agency on Aging for Pasco-Pinellas, City of Clearwater Cultural Affairs, City of Clearwater; Office on Aging, City of Largo Recreation, Parks & Arts, City of St. Petersburg, Arts & International Relations, City of St. Petersburg; Office on Aging, Clearwater Arts Foundation, Easy Living Florida, Louise Collins, Creative Clay, Doris Hanson, Eckerd College, The Marcia P. Hoffman Performing Arts Institute, Mindful Moves…dance for the Wise, Sallie Parks, Morton Plant Mease Health Care, Pinellas County Cultural Affairs Department, VSA Florida, Margo Walbolt, YMCA of the Suncoast.
Learn about upcoming Teaching Artist Workshops
Arts and Aging Workshop - August 18th, 2009
Additional Information & Resources
About the National Center for Creative Aging
The National Center for Creative Aging (NCCA) is dedicated to fostering an understanding of the vital relationship between creative expression and the quality of life of older people. Creative expression is important for older people of all cultures and ethnic backgrounds, regardless of economic status, age, or level
of physical, emotional, or cognitive functioning.
Since its establishment, the NCCA has been actively organizing individual and organizational memberships into 20 statewide networks organized into regions: Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, Northwest, and Southwest. These networks and memberships are connected through the NCCA’s e-newsletter that provides up- to-date information on creativity and aging, the directory of the NCCA, events and conferences as well as access to training materials and other resources.
More information about NCCA can be found at www.creativeaging.org
The National Center for Creative Aging - Positive Health Benefits Fact Sheet
About Dr. Gene Cohen:
 Dr. Gene Cohen, author of The Creative Age: Awakening Human Potential in the Second Half of Life, asserts, "There is no denying the problems that accompany aging. But what has been universally denied is the potential. The ultimate expression of potential is creativity."
It is Dr. Cohen's groundbreaking research on psychological growth and development in the second half of life that has led to a new understanding of the capacity for positive change and the direct link between creative expression and healthy aging.
Cohen, the founder of the Center on Aging, Health & Humanities at George Washington University, in Washington, D.C., died on November 7, 2009. He was 65.
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