Mission
The National Center for Creative Aging (NCCA) was founded in 2001 and is dedicated to fostering an understanding of the vital relationship between creative expression and healthy aging and to developing programs that build on this understanding.
The process of aging is a profound experience marked by increasing physical and emotional change and a heightened search for meaning and purpose. 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. The arts can serve as a powerful way to engage elders in a creative and healing process of self-expression, enabling them to create works that honor their life experience.
Initiatives
The National Center for Creative Aging promotes three initiatives; Civic Engagement, Health and Wellness, and Lifelong Learning, integral to its mission of bringing arts programs to older adults. Find out more about these below
Civic Engagement
Why Focus on Civic Engagement?
Civic engagement is important in building vibrant communities that promote social justice with opportunities for fulfilling one's potential at all ages. Civic engagement includes volunteering, participating in intergenerational programs, getting involved in one's community, etc. Arts programs are essential in a community to help older adults get involved and remain an important part of their community. Having intergenerational arts programs in communities helps older people as the the keepers of culture remain dynamic members of society and provides younger generations with positive role models encouraging a strong sense of meaning and purpose in healthy living in vital communities.
Health & Wellness
Why Focus on Health & Wellness?
Health and wellness can be achieved in many ways, including using creativity to work the mind and body. Research has shown that mental activity stimulated by arts activities can be especially beneficial to people with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Cases of cognitive disabilities increase with age, so as the population lives longer more people will be diagnosed. By bringing arts programs to people with cognitive disabilities, you can create more opportunities for people with cognitive loss and their caregivers.
Lifelong Learning
Why focus on Lifelong Learning?
As life expectancy increases, more attention is being given to the meaning and purpose of later life. The NCCA aims to meet the developmental needs of older people through creative engagement, sense memory and self-expression.