How Community Arts can Help the Elderly

Is there a link between creativity and cognitive health in the elderly? And can community arts support the world’s ageing population?

The UK, like many countries in the world, has an ageing population. As life expectancy rises, we must find ways to support our elderly. Community arts is one of the ways to do this. In fact, there’s now evidence to suggest that arts is linked with the pathway to healthy ageing.

While doctors usually advise people to exercise, eat well and get enough sleep, creative therapies are often overlooked as a source of health and wellbeing.

The University of Bolton’s MA Applied and Community Arts course is suitable for anyone with a degree in theatre, performance, drama, dance or other creative subjects. If you want to change people’s lives through art, this programme could be for you.

Here are just some of the ways that community arts can help the elderly in your local community:

1. Creativity improves mood

Stimulating the right side of the brain not only puts a smile on people’s faces, but it can help to reduce anxiety, stress and depression. It’s a mood-booster, and for a lot of elderly people who live alone, it’s a great way to release tension and worry.

Additionally, activities such as drawing, painting, singing or dancing are extremely expressive. This provides a way for the elderly to process trauma or other experiences they find too difficult to talk about.