News

  

Studies Suggest There's An Art to Getting Older
by Beth Baker, Special to The Washington Post
Tuesday, March 11, 2008; Page HE01
In the Greenbelt Community Center, 25 elders sit in a circle, watching professional storyteller Candace Wolf. She Moves around the circle, smiling, giving someone's shoulder a gentle squeeze, making eye contact. The artist, on the faculty of the nonprofit Bethesda-based Arts for the Aging (AFTA), enlists the group's help in creating a story, based on a silly photo she has passed around of a stocky older couple arm-wrestling...Before long, a narrative has been spun, with threads offered by participants -- most of them people with dementia or other cognitive problems -- and woven by Wolf. She has adapted her storytelling workshops to this audience because studies suggest that making art, or even listening to music or viewing paintings, supports physical, mental and emotional well-being and eases some symptoms of illness, including dementia. The idea is gaining traction.  Read the full article featured in The Washington Post that highlights the NCCA, our new Toolkit, and our work to promote creativity among older adults.


 

Vintage Voices The New Senior Moment
by Gene Cohen, MD, PhD
in Aging Well Magazine
In the Winter 2008 issue of Aging Well, Gene Cohen illuminates the common mis-informed concept of a "senior moment" -- what in most of the 20th century explained away momentary lapses in memory. But, we now know that we have the capacity to continue new brain cells right until the end of life. Instead, aging might bring with it a new psychological development in older age, where we can feel liberated and more creative. It's as if an inner voice begins to say "If not now, when? Why not?," Cohen explains.


  

Congress Approves a Major Funding Increase for Older Americans Act
NCOA's Aging Magazine
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) has been advocating, through its Support Our Seniors campaign for Congress to make substantial increases in funding for all Older Americans Act (OAA) programs. Many concerned individuals across the country contacted their members of Congress about this important matter. Congress heeded the call and voted for increases of $111 million for OAA programs in Fiscal Year 2008.


 
Study: Aging Artists Remain Resilient
Associated Press
Aging artists in New York City stay engaged and productive well past retirement age and would choose their profession again if they were starting over, according to a new study. "Above Ground: Information on Artists III: Special Focus New York City Aging Artists" found that contrary to the stereotype that people become more isolated as they age, aging artists remain passionate and display high self-esteem and life satisfaction.

 

Press Releases

 

 

February 2010
National Center for Creative Aging Presents Engaging Arts Webinar Series, Providing Insight on Creativivty in Aging From Leading Professionals Across the Country
As the population of older adults increases, the need for quality, innovative arts programs rises.  The NCCA will present two distance learning webinar series on arts making programs funded in part by the Naitonal Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation.  This informative online series will feature best practices, research and resource development from highly acclaimed professionals in the arts and aging fields from across the country.

 

 

May 2009
NCCA presents the NCCA-MetLifeFoundation Creativity Matters: Civic Engagement Symposium, San Francisco, CA, June 15
What are some of the best ways to keep older Americans involved in the arts and their community?  The National Center for Creative Aging (NCCA) has some innovative solutions, which will be shared at the “NCCA-MetLife Foundation Creativity Matters: Civic Engagement Symposium,” held in San Francisco, California on June 15, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The one-day event, which is being held at Tenants and Owners Development Corporation (TODCO)-Coleman House, will focus on creating intergenerational arts programs and is of interest to the public, particularly aging services providers, caregivers, or senior artists interested in remaining active in their community... > Read more.

 

March 2009
NCCA presents the NCCA-MetLife Foundation Creativity Matters: Health, Wellness, and the Arts Symposium in WAshington, DC, March 30-April 1
The National Center for Creative Aging (NCCA) will present a conference on how to use storytelling and museum programs as a way to engage people with dementia. Gay Hanna, Executive Director of NCCA explains, “Cases of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease increase with age, so as the population lives longer, more people will be diagnosed. This symposium is unique in that it focuses on innovative ways to bring together cultural institutions and healthcare facilities to create low cost and high quality services for people with dementia and their caregivers."

 

October 2008
A Miami Arts and Aging Symposium Highlights Lifelong Learning: NCCA's Creativity Matters Symposium in Miami, FL
The University of Miami’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) and theNational Center for Creative Aging (NCCA) will co-host a professional forum for artists, educators and aging service providers. The session, “Creativity Matters: Miami Arts and Aging Symposium on Lifelong Learning,” will be presented by the NCCA at theAdrienne Arsht Center in Miami on December 9th and 10th. This MetLife Foundationconference will be beneficial to various professionals such as social workers, art therapists and general educators.

 

July 2007
COMMITMENT TO “CREATIVE AGING” FORGES NEW PARTNERSHIP: NCCA Joins GW’s Center on Aging, Health & Humanities
The emerging field of "arts and aging" takes a creative leap forward with the announcement of the partnership betewen two leaders in the field -- The National Center for Creative Aging (NCCA) in New York City and The George Washington University's Center on Aging, Health & Humanitites (CAHH) in Washington, DC.  NCCA will move to Washington, DC in July 2007...

 

 

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