Through the Eyes of an Elder: Bringing art to older adults

 By Kerry Cobb

My husband and I have lived in the Gorge for 15 years. We moved from Portland after our sons graduated and moved out on their own. We live in Mosier on beautiful land, and I love being in a rural area of such natural beauty — while still being close enough to the city to enjoy that too.

For several years I ran the Columbia Center for the Arts, where we had the pleasure of bringing a wide variety of art experiences to the community. When we specifically invited older adults to our events, we found that getting to the center could be challenging for them. So, I wrote some successful grants to bring art to senior communities, and I started a program making presentations about artists and art history at several senior facilities.

When I retired from the center, I decided to continue and expand that work on my own because I loved doing it so much. I find older adults very receptive to learning and open and curious about knowing more about art. My perspective and philosophy on both art and aging continues to evolve as I explore new areas of learning and engaging with art with my students — like putting on plays starring the residents, conducting classes in classic literature, and expanding the art history programming. Older adults bring a life-time of experience and wisdom to their attitudes, opinions, and insights about art, making the classes rich and exciting. It’s a joyful thing, and I learn so much from them.

Senior facilities are eager and welcoming about incorporating art into their programming, and I volunteer my time and work to make it easy for the staff at each facility. I’ve been working with Down Manor and Mid-Columbia Senior Center for years now, and I have taken the programs to a couple other facilities this year. The staff are so helpful and accommodating. Also, the Hood River Library started partnering with me two years ago by supplying art books and literature books for the classes — a fantastic collaboration. I’m so grateful to them.

So many great things have happened. One favorite is from the Classic American Literature class. We are reading one classic book a month in chronological order — famous books they’ve either read when in high school or college or always wanted to read. Now they come with an older adult perspective.

I wasn’t sure how it would go, but they all jumped in. After the first class, the excitement was palpable. I teach it like a college-level course, and they come really prepared. They meet in groups before class to discuss the book, and their insights are amazing. The third month of the class, we discussed their realization about how smart they are, how much they know and have lived and learned, and how these books give them perspective as they reflect on their lives. That conversation was one of my best feelings ever and so rewarding.

Another anecdote — when I direct the plays, the performers’ children and grandchildren often attend the performances. They tell me what a delight it is to see their parents so engaged and funny and doing something so different. And the performers are so proud.

I recently started working with older adults living with dementia and their caregivers, using art to facilitate communication, relationships, and joy. I discovered a way to do this by accessing information from two major museums who have Art & Dementia programs. The results so far have been exciting.

Art is good for our health and well-being. There is a whole science behind this now, and I see it every day in the work I’m doing. It brings joy, reduces stress, lights up the brain, and opens communication. Older adults bring a lifetime of experiences and learning when they engage in art, and that results in an enriched life.