THE PROBLEM:  Older adults are at elevated risk for social isolation due to the natural series of losses that accompany aging: retirement, loss of a spouse, children moving away, as well as the onset of health problems.

A SOLUTION:  The Wayne County Public Library received a LSTA grant in the amount of $44,902.00 to implement a project that is designed to expand library services and promote lifelong learning to senior adults ages 55+ through the implementation of the Creative Aging Program.  The library chose the Creative Aging Program because this arts education program honors older adults as creative and social learners and helps shift the narrative about growing older away from a negative view to one of optimism, engagement in the community, and joy.

Creative Aging is an art education program specifically designed to serve older adults. The programs are taught by professional teaching artists and are offered in all disciplines. (visual, performing, and literary arts) Creative aging workshops are:

• Hands-on, student-centered, skills-based, sequential instruction over a sustained period (7 weeks + a culminating event)
• Designed to encourage social engagement. Participants share their learning with each other, through facilitated, modeled conversation (encourages social engagement)
• Led by professional teaching artists. Teaching artists create a safe and risk free environment where experimentation and engagement is encouraged. Importantly, creative aging library programs foster new relationships between older adults and the larger community. They succeed in breaking down the chronic isolation and passive existence of many older adults as they unlock their expressive abilities.
• A culminating event – free and open to the public, celebrates the achievements of each participant and provides confirmation of the value of their work. Event attendees, some of whom themselves are older adults, find encouragement and inspiration in the celebration of their peers’ accomplishments.

THE GOAL:  Participants in the program will have increased knowledge and skills pertaining to the arts;  feel less socially isolated; gain technology skills; and have higher levels of competence, self-esteem, and well being.