How do you keep the arts in your life?

We know that exercise has a positive effect on the maintenance of physical and mental health. Similarly, research shows that involvement with music, dance, painting, drama and other arts may help keep our minds sharp as we age. There seems to be no age limit to positive effects of the arts in our lives. They assist mental agility and engagement. No matter how old or young you are, there are ways to participate actively in arts activities. If you have home healthcare support, someone providing care services, or care in your home, many of these activities can be done together for more enjoyment.

We do not need to be professionals in order to touch the artist within us. Listen. See. Feel.

How many Arts are yours?

Music
__ Can you play a musical instrument?
__ Do you enjoy listening to music?
__ Do you play in an orchestra or musical group?
__ Do you attend concerts?
__ Do you sing in a group?
__ Do you enjoy playing music as you work, walk, or read?

Dance
__ How often do you dance?
__ Could you attend a dance class?
__ Have you tried the tango or salsa dance?
__ Do you watch dancing on TV?
__ Do you dance alone, just to enjoy moving?
__ Could you try an aerobic dance class?
__ Did you know elderly people do dance?

Painting
__ Do you enjoy a museum trip?
__ Have you ever painted with watercolors?
__ Have you painted on a canvas?
__ Have you drawn a diagram with markers?
__ Do you paint rocks for fun?
__ Do you have a favorite painter?

Drama
__ Do you go see theater productions?
__ Have you put on a skit lately?
__ Do you become involved in the storylines of TV shows?
__ Have you seen a TV show live?
__ Have you performed a comedy routine, even at home?
__ Do you laugh at comedy routines?
__ Do you watch movies?

Photography
__ Do you notice advertisements with fascinating pictures?
__ Do you have a camera? or a cell phone camera?
__ Have you tried taking pictures with it?
__ Have you pasted pictures together into a collage of things you love?
__ Used cut up photos to envision your future in a dream poster?
__ Have photo books or magazine with pictures you enjoy?

Can you check off any of these arts activities?
How about one from each group?
How about all of them in each group?
How about other creative ways to include these arts in your life?

Some of these things are very simple and routine, but adding these activities to your life a few times a week can provide both personal enrichment and something to enjoy sharing with others.
Continued participation in the arts keeps your brain engaged; it also can keep your mind engaged.

You may not consider yourself an artist or dance or musician, but you can be an art lover, a music lover, and a lover of dance. The arts keep our hearts fresh and alive with the simple joy we can experience from beauty and sharing beauty with others.

Try to complete the list, try everything once if you can, just for the fun of it. One often hears of a bucket list, why not have an arts list to keep yourself away from that bucket. Give it a try! Even if you have done all of these things, you can always help someone else enjoy them, too.

If you are providing elderly or senior care services or giving care in the home these are some great activities to do together. It is time to experience “Creative Aging”.

Inspired by an article from Homecare Assistance.

Jaleh Neshat, Home Care Assistance, Raleigh, NC, where the focus is on The Balanced Care Method™ for home healthcare or care services in North Carolina. Read more how-to information on care in the home on the website.

Comment by Fred T. Gruber Jr. on March 2, 2013 at 4:02pm: I think it's very important to be active with some type of art form. I play guitar and study Tai Chi, which I will be able to do when I get older. The Tai Chi brings me balance and music help me to unwind, at the end of a long day. They are also great forms of self expression.

Comment by Yoga w/ Olga on March 2, 2013 at 8:52pm: This is so refreshing. It's never too late to enjoy the creative side of ourselves! And when we do, it's so much fun!

Comment by Jaleh Neshat on March 11, 2013 at 3:35pm: Fred, it is wonderful that you play guitar and study Tai Chi; I think these will continue to serve you well when you become a senior.
Olga, All the best with your creative side. I know you keep active with Yoga. Please share what else you do if you wouldn't mind.
Victor, Sounds like you have a full artistic life. I'm glad to hear that!