What is Creative Aging?

Abstract: The United States population is rapidly aging and as negative narratives about aging are perpetuated by persistent ageism, older age is often accompanied by social isolation and diminished well-being. Creative aging programs are an excellent solution. These research-driven arts-based programs engage older adults–often those living with dementia–and their care partners in interactive art experiences. They aim to inspire creativity and joy; promote vital social connections; support physical, cognitive, emotional, and social well-being; and preserve agency and dignity. While creative aging program development is growing, the field encounters barriers of funding, capacity, transportation, visibility, and more that inhibit program sustainability, let alone expansion to meet demand. Through conversational interviews, this research investigates these barriers and discusses interviewees’ dreams for the field to critically examine its potential for increased impact as policy-making for “age-friendly” longevity-focused communities gains greater support. By raising questions and theorizing about how dreams of new funding streams, communication networks, a national teaching artist certification, and the integration of arts on prescription into healthcare could be pursued, the goal is to increase creative aging’s visibility and turn negative, fearful narratives of aging into positive aging stories of purpose and vitality.

This resource is a tool for sharing the creative aging impact story and advocating for increased support across sectors and further integration of creative aging into public health, policy, and social infrastructure. This guide describes creative aging, explains its benefits, expresses its importance as the aging population grows, details the field’s barriers to sustainability and expansion, shares the field’s dreams for the future, provides advice on presenting this information as “the creative aging impact story,” includes examples of sharing creative aging stories, and invites you to craft your creative aging impact story. Explaining creative aging as a story is essential for the field to increase its impact and expand the reach of this vital programming. This resource was created for creative aging professionals seeking to grow the field’s impact and advocate for creative aging across sectors, and can be referenced and utilized by those adjacent to creative aging programs who want to understand them and/or contribute support.