Research completed by the UBC School of Nursing during the first 3 years of this project proves that participation in creative arts promotes better health for older adults. The project presently provides ongoing weekly arts workshops for seniors at six sites, each with a professional artist, an intern artist and a seniors worker.The seniors explore and build skills in a distinct creative medium e.g. digital storytelling, puppetry and performance, music and voice, etc. In 2011/2012 the groups also collaborated with eachother on projects as a way of providing seniors with a broader experience and a larger community. The projects long term goal is to increase
access to community-engaged arts programming for seniors across BC, to maintain and/or improve the health and well-being of seniors, provide targeted support for seniors dealing with marginalization or conditions of vulnerablity and to support the professional development of those interested in this work with seniors.

Problema

Seniors are the largest growing sector of the population and marginalization and vulerability is increasing amongst the elderly.The vulnerable & marginalized seniors that participate in the Arts & Health Project deal with a broad range of social and health issues that are all exacerbated by aging. Presently there are approximately 100 seniors in Vancouver & North Vancouver particpating in A&H programming and our plans to create two new sites each year across BC, and to provide on-line learning tools for other organizations interested in implementing professionally led community-engaged arts programming will result in more opportunities for access for seniors.

Solución

Research completed by the UBC School of Nursing during the first 3 years of this project proves that participation in creative arts promotes better health for older adults. The project presently provides ongoing weekly arts workshops for seniors at six sites, each with a professional artist, an intern artist and a seniors worker.The seniors explore and build skills in a distinct creative medium e.g. digital storytelling, puppetry and performance, music and voice, etc. In 2011/2012 the groups also collaborated with eachother on projects as a way of providing seniors with a broader experience and a larger community. The projects long term goal is to increase access to community-engaged arts programming for seniors across BC, to maintain and/or improve the health and well-being of seniors, provide targeted support for seniors dealing with marginalization or conditions of vulnerablity and to support the professional development of those interested in this work with seniors.

Ejemplo

The project has many moving impact stories of seniors whose lives have been significantly improved through their involvement in the project. One participant who suffers from severe depression, began attending workshops six years ago. She was withdrawn, never spoke and would not share her work with the group. After many years of attending she has very slowly become an active and vocal participant in the group. She feels confident now to share her most difficult work. She has somewhere to go every week where she feel she belongs. She speaks now. She is seen!

Mercado

The project does not have competitors. It is the goal of the project to share knowledge with others working with seniors and to provide more opportunities for older adults across BC. Healthcare professionals involved in elder care and artists working in other community-engaged arts practices are both part of the project's professional Community of Practice, but the project is innovative in its focus on professionally led community-engaged arts programming for vulnerable seniors with a focus on positive health outcomes.