The power of Creativity: How Art benefits the wellbeing of seniors

Many studies have shown that art can help improve health. It can be a non-verbal channel for people to express their feelings, thoughts, and emotions. Not only does the process of creating art foster social inclusion, as a study about community-engaged arts by Moody and Phinney has shown, but it also connects people afterwards by leaving space for interpretation and empathetic thoughts towards the artist.

A study by Hacking et al. suggests that the arts have a positive impact on the mental well-being of people who struggle with mental health. The study also indicates the therapeutic effect of art-based methodologies by increasing the self-esteem and social inclusion of participants. Often, multiple senses are used to create art, such as painting with fingers, which distracts from inner thoughts and creates a sense of presence in the moment.

Art can be a powerful tool to promote the social inclusion of seniors. In fact, this group is at risk of isolation, which can occur for different reasons, such as the death of a partner or health and physical limitations. Engaging seniors in art-based activities and ensuring that these activities cater to this group is an important way to make them feel included in their communities and encourage connections and relationships. This also has a cognitive benefit, as art-making promotes a creative process, problem-solving, and critical thinking.

In this context, our EU&YOU project aims to connect seniors and young people from three European islands: Ireland, Sardinia, and Madeira. We hope that the art-based methodology will act as a communication tool between the different cultures and serve as a brilliant channel for European adults to express their feelings and communicate with people who do not speak the same language. During the project, participants will be introduced to different art styles and mediums to help them choose the best option to tell their story. Furthermore, this project is designed to foster the European identity and to connect people from different generations and cultural backgrounds.