Another virtual affair! Continuing from the inaugural year in 2020, on September 24th – it’s Arts and Aging Day Canada, a day that highlights the value of arts-based activities for older adults.
Supported by the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging and the Sheridan Centre for Elder Research, once again this event is presented by the truly dedicated Kate Dupuis, the Schlegel Innovation Leader in Arts and Aging.
While Arts & Aging Day is primarily focused on featuring the selected artistic work of those who live in care homes, retirement communities, seniors or older adult community centres across the country, that should not exclude recognizing the active participation in various areas of the arts by older adults in our communities at large, which would include visual art, music, dance, theatre, writing and other crafts.
If you are an organization that identifies from the list in the paragraph above and you want to get involved to feature the work you are doing in the field of arts, health, and aging, as well as make connections across the country, the Research Institute for Aging provides an Arts and Aging Day Canada Social Media Toolkit on their designated web page.
It was my good fortune to meet Kate Dupuis in 2017 at the Sheridan Centre for Elder Research and over the years have learned so much about the arts and the mindful engagement of older adults. Simultaneously, I happened to have met two individuals who have developed their own enterprises which service the older adult care communities – one in music and one in visual arts. So I take this opportunity while promoting Arts & Aging Day, to mention them and their work.
Bev Foster is Co-founder, Executive Director of the Room 217 Foundation. As a social enterprise their purpose is Changing the Care Experience with Music. Bev was inspired by her own experience with her father’s end of life, as she says, “how music companioned Dad in his final transition.” Room 217 celebrates its 12th anniversary this year, continuing to develop a strong offering of research, education and training services and products for older adult communities.
Cailey Massey is Founder of Artfull Enrichment. Now in her fifth year 2021, similar to Room 217, Cailey has built a wonderful enterprise delivering art programs to promote creative expression, social connectivity, and lifelong learning for those in older adult communities. Cailey’s philosophy is best captured by her motto “Art is transcendent of age.” No doubt that is one reason that prompted her thinking when recently changing her original business name from Artfull Aging.
More about Cailey Massey in my blog post in the week leading up to Arts & Aging Day Canada.