One of the essential aging tips for any senior is finding a hobby that not only brings joy, but also can stimulate your mind and senses. Art is such a passion, and there have always been plenty of research and studies dedicated to illustrating how this popular pastime can help cater to a healthy mind. Whether it’s painting on the porch, attending a pottery class or enrolling in art therapy sessions, there are many ways art can influence a more active senior lifestyle through everything from increasing motivation to promoting socialization. Here are a few of the ways art can be a favorable hobby for seniors:
Improves overall health
A primary study that analyzed how participating in art-related activities specifically impacted senior health was conducted by a collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Institute of Mental Health. The 12 month study included 166 healthy older adults who had an average age of 80, and were split into two groups that either featured art-related activities or did not. At the end of the study, the researchers noted that the group that received art intervention reported better overall health results, including fewer visits to the doctor, less medication use, a reduced amount of falls and fewer health problems in general.
Stimulates cognitive ability
Another study conducted by researchers at the University Hospital Erlangen in Germany examined how cognitive health is changed when seniors engage in artistic hobbies. For the course of 10 weeks, subjects aged between 62 and 70 were divided into one group that took hands-on art classes while other studied art appreciation. The researchers identified that participants who were engaged in drawing and painting classes displayed “a significant improvement in psychological resilience,” specifically relating to areas such as memory, self-monitoring and introspection. The researchers also elaborated on how exactly they felt that creating art specifically impacted the inner workings of the brain.
“The improvements in the visual art production group may be partially attributable to a combination of motor and cognitive processing,” the authors of the study said in a statement. “The participants in our study were required to perform the cognitive tasks of following, understanding, and imitating the visual artist’s introduction. The visual art production intervention involved the development of personal expression and focus on self-related experience during art creation.”
Other benefits of art involvement
Besides the research that alludes to the health advantages of partaking in art, there are plenty of other ways these types of hobbies can promote active senior living. For starters, there are many community art classes that are ideal settings for not only practicing your artistic passions, but also for more opportunities to socialize with others. Any seniors who feel like they’re frequently encountering stressful experiences can consider taking on art therapy sessions, which utilize artistic resources in an effort to cleanse the mind and promote a calmer attitude.
If you’re ever curious to see if there are any community art-related programs catered to seniors in your area, check out the website for the National Center for Creative Aging, which has a searchable database filled with all types of classes directly targeted towards seniors all around the county. You can also explore options in any educational institute within your area, which often have weekly classes that are open to the general public to enroll in. Of course, arguably the best thing about art is that you can practice your passion in the comfort of your own home!
