Creative therapies and mental health: art therapy and older adults

Art making is an age-old component of the human condition and this has been experience on a variety of levels throughout the centuries. Generally, arts are created and then appreciated and/or experienced b others, Oftentimes, creating art is pleasurable and sometimes it is created to express attitudes, beliefs or ideas. Likewise, viewing art can result in a variety of felt emotions and it ca stimulate recollection, associations and experiences. It is only natural that as the arts become more embedded into our culture(s) and communities that therapeutic modalities utilizing the arts are fining their way into mainstream treatment options. Art Therapy is an emerging mental health field that addresses the psychological and emotional well being of people experiencing a variety of medical, physical and cognitive challenges. Currently, there is increasing interest in providing creative therapies to older adults and how this engagement can improve their overall quality of life. Preliminary research and direct observation have shown that art therapy with older adults can improve coordination, orientation, expressive and communication skills, and enhance social contact. This presentation will discuss the implementation of art therapy into forensic mental health over an extended period of time and suggest ways in which other professionals can introduce and establish art therapy into their work with older adults.