More than 72% of Americans wish they could spend more time on creative activities. With so many responsibilities and obligations taking up free time, many people don't have the time to be creative.
This is why art activities for seniors play such an important role in retirement.
You have the time to explore those inspirations you've ignored for so long, but where do you start? We've gathered the top activities that will spark your imagination, better your life, and keep you having fun. Keep reading to learn all about them!
If you ever feel uncertain about joining art programs for seniors, you should know that creative activities bring many benefits to your life. These activities often have a social element that keeps you interacting with others. It's an easy way to lose yourself in personal expression and can entertain you for hours at a time.
Plus, the more you work on your chosen art activity, the better you'll get. Each minute builds your skills so your next project will be better than the last.
Other benefits include:
With so many benefits to appreciate, you should choose an art and craft project that excites you to keep going. To help you find the best match, we've compiled a list of the popular types of art and their unique appeal.
The visual arts are the typical projects people think of when they hear the word 'art'. Anything with a visual impact counts in this style.
These activities are easy to dive into since they often require few supplies. Drawing, for instance, only requires a pencil and paper. If you don't have a pencil, then a ballpoint pen, crayon, or even chalk can work, too.
It's a freeing thing to put marks on a piece of paper. If you feel nervous about your skill level, don't worry. You can keep a sketchbook for yourself and never feel forced to share it with anyone.
Visual art activities include:
When you want to create something with practical use, textile arts are the way to go. This section of art focuses on using fibers of various types to create something that's either decorative or useful.
Once you've learned the basics, you'll create things like blankets, sweaters, stuffed animals, or rugs. These make great personal gifts or can liven up your residence with things you've created with your own hands.
There are a lot of meditative and relaxing motions when it comes to textile arts, so you can do it while enjoying a show, music, or chatting with friends.
Textile arts activities include:
Have you ever wanted to be center stage? Did you have dreams of creating a compelling story with nothing but music and movement?
The performing arts are the perfect match for anyone who wants to create something temporary for others to enjoy. Although these activities don't have a physical result, they're no less beautiful.
There's a lot of freedom in performance. You get to decide if you want to be a solo act or if you want to participate with others. You can have a strict routine or you can decide to improvise on the spot.
Performing arts activities include:
This style of art lets you create entire worlds or perspectives. It lets you learn about other people's experiences and find the beauty in their journey. You can also share the details of your own journey, letting your audience recognize themselves in your story.
Whether you decide to go with realism or create something new, the literary arts are one of the easiest arts for beginners. There are no real rules and you only need a way to write down the words that come to you.
You don't even need to share your writings with anyone if you'd rather keep them for yourself.
Literary arts activities include:
Although it's not seen as an art in a traditional sense, gardening requires creativity and dedication. Those two qualities are at the heart of any artistic pursuit, which makes gardening fit perfectly with the rest.
You'll get the joy of watching a seed grow into something vibrant and beautiful. You can create a whole garden full of colors and textures. You can share the bounty of a vegetable garden with friends and family for a fresh treat.
Gardening activities include:
Not all creative pursuits require your participation. Sometimes the best way to enjoy art is to look at others as they perform and share.
To inspire your own creativity, it's vital to look at how other people interact with their mediums. You never know when inspiration will strike. Make sure your assisted living community takes you on all kinds of different outings, so you have ample opportunities to explore the world around you.
For example, Azalea Park Senior Living puts a strong emphasis on engaging seniors in art. In addition to community shopping sprees and dining trips, we also bring our community to local events. These events can include plays, music performances, dance recitals, and more.
There's never a dull moment when you join a thriving and artistic-forward community!
No matter which type of art project you choose, you'll enjoy the benefits every single day. The good news is that finding a variety of art activities for seniors is simple when you join a trusted community.
Azalea Park Senior Living, which is part of the Discovery family, makes it easy for seniors to enjoy creative pursuits. We encourage our community members to participate in classes and outings that expand their creative skills. Schedule a tour with us today and we'll show you how we integrate creativity with healthy living!