PHOTO: Arts & AGEing KC encourages creative art participation among seniors. The organization will provide many of the activities at the Creative AGEing Seminar at St. Joseph Medical Center on September 6.
St. Joseph hosts Creative AGEing Seminar
By Kathy Feist
Research has shown that senior citizens who engage in the arts are less depressed and lonely, have higher morale, fewer doctor visits and less medicine. Creative endeavors, such as storytelling, singing, weaving, dancing, painting and poetry, make seniors’ lives better according to the National Center for Creative Aging.
Seniors can test it out for themselves on Friday, September 6, when St. Joseph Medical Center hosts the Creative AGEing Seminar at its Community Education Building D, 10000 Carondelet Dr. The event begins at 9 am and runs to 2 pm. Registration is at 8:30 am.
Participants will engage in artist-led breakout sessions that include creating original greeting card art, working with watercolors, making textile collages and learning storytelling/theater. Performances will include dance and yoga, drumming, jazz and a talk on Framing Aging.
Debra Campbell, founder of Arts and AGEing KC, will be the morning’s keynote speaker. She will discuss the health benefits of creating art when growing older. A second keynote speaker will be 90-year-old artist and muralist George Morris, whose murals grace the downtown convention center.
Arts and Ageing KC was founded in Kansas City by Debra Campbell in 2009, just as the research in creative arts and aging first emerged. Arts and Ageing KC brings activities to senior centers and provides art classes at the Brush Creek Community Center.
The event is sponsored by Aging 2.0 which focuses on bringing innovations to the aging community. The seminar is open to caregivers. For more information, go to www.bit.ly/CreativeAgingKC, email kansascity@aging2.com or call Kim at 816.943.4543.