Monday, August 31, 2009

Model Elderly Care: Mayor Bloomberg Touts Kinder, Gentler Senior Programs

New York City is rolling out a series of changes to help the aging population in the city. The plan includes making senior centers "model centers of wellness" including new activities and programs, using off duty school buses to take seniors to the grocery store during the day, offering discounts at health clubs and free air conditioners to seniors in poor health. Mayor Bloomber's office, the City of Council and the New York Academy of Medicine studied the challenges facing older adults and developed 59 recommendations to make life easier for the population. "The ideas that are in the 59 goals and initiatives today come directly from what seniors told us about transportation, civic engagement, housing and health care. We're going to make these ideas and suggestions a reality," said Council Speaker Christine Quinn
Daily News, August 2009
Read more about this article here

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Funding Opportunity!

The Creative Aging in Our Communities: The Westchester Libraries Project is currently taking applications for their program. Up to eight grants will be awarded and for between $1,000 and $5,000 to libraries willing to provide a space for a workshop series, coordination and promotion, and hosting an exhibiton or performance at the library. Libraries are required to apply for the programming grants in partnership with professional arts organizatios and/or teaching artists.

Deadline: The applicaiton is due November 2, 2009 for programs taking place from January through May of 2010.

For more information and the application visit www.westchesterlibraries.org and www.lifetimearts.org.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

News Brief - Medical Advocacy Mural Project

Health care reform is a hot topic this summer with debates and demonstrations around the country. Regina Holliday is speaking her part by traveling around Washington, D.C. painting murals to illustrate the need for health care reform after witnessing the downfalls of the system while her husband spent a significant amount of time in the hospital. An interesting video showcasing the Medical Advocacy Mural Project can be found here.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Call for Proposals - National Conference on Positive Aging

The National Conference on Positive Aging will be held on December 7-9 at Eckerd College - St. Petersburg, Florida.

The conference is currently requesting proposals for workshop presentations and demonstrations that will follow the keynote address in each theme area:

Life Transitions - The Life Transitions programs are devoted to models, ideas and distinctions about the critical transition triggers and issues for people in the second half of life. Goals of the initiative include: gaining new perspective on the process of making transitions to the second half of life; learn about approaches that track successes in facilitating transitions; make connections between life transitions and various aspects of our lives including wellness, community, and creativity/arts.

Creativity - Creativity is a way for adults later in life to enhance their physical health, enrich relationships and strengthen morale. Creative engagement is also a legacy that older people can leave their children, grandchildren, and society. Goals of the programs presented include: to gain new perspective on the role of creativity in program development for older adults; to learn about successful programs in visual arts, drama, music, dance and literature; to examine the role of older artists in society as models for successful aging.

Wellness - Wellness includes physical, psychological, social and spiritual wellness and relates strongly to personal purpose, quality of life, realistic expectations, and relationships with other people as well as nature. These focuses can be encouraged through exercise, disease prevention, health narratives, social engagement, practice of humanities and cultural change. Goals of this focus include: to understand the value of literary, visual, and performing arts in giving joy and purpose in life; to examine aspects of cultural change necessary to enhance the quality of life of elders; to develop a sense of wellness through intergenerational learning, among others.

Community - The community cluster will examine the role of community and sense of self in the world. It will focus on how people find their place in the face of challenge. Climate, neighbors, politics, passions, culture, services, money, health, values and family are all important aspects of a person's community, so exploring these things helps to define one's sense of place. Culture is also an extremely valuable aspect in community and should be explored in depth along with the above topics.

For more information about these clusters, visit - http://www.eckerd.edu/positiveaging

The proposals should address important issues pertaining to these themes submitted by September 11, 2009 by Email, Fax, or Mail.

Questions about proposals should be directed to Joan Karins at Karinsjr@eckerd.edu

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Six-String Seniors: Students Prove it's Never too late to Rock

Pat Howe of La Plata, MD, had to undergo open skull surgery after having a brain aneurysm. After deciding at a college course would be a little too stressful, the 63-year-old school teacher decided to pick up the guitar, something she had never tried before. Howe said, "[My friends said] 'you got divorced, went to school and got your teaching degree at 50. You'll be a rock start when you're 65.'" Howe attends guitar classes at the Waldorf Senior Center for beginners who have never had the time to learn the instrument. Charlesetta Welsh, another member of the class said, "I've always been excited to learn. It's never too late. I'm 74 going on 75. I wanted to do something I've never done before and it's fun. I'll keep coming; I'm not going to give up."
Read the story here

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Facebook!

NCCA has joined facebook!

Join our group and learn about upcoming events, new articles in the field, and use as a networking tool to see who in your area is a part of the creative aging cause!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=107689248422

Monday, August 3, 2009

Storytelling Uniting Generations

Storytelling is a magnificant way to bring older adults and youth together to share a creative activity. Older adults are the keepers of culture, essential in relaying the past and sharing experiences with younger generations.

In the article, Aging Well: Resurrecting the Art of Storytelling, Tamera Manzanares describes the storytelling program, Spellbinders. Spellbinders started in the 1980s and trains retirees from all over the world and with disabilities to read and tell stories to elementary aged children. Spellbinders is benifical for the listeners as much as the storytellers. "The reward of seeing the children and having them so enthralled with your stories is just so much satisfaction," said Norma Roscoe, a storyteller and chapter leader for Mesa County Spellbinders.