German artist Joseph Beuys once said, “Everyone is an artist.” And at St. Mark Village, we agree. Our arts and crafts activities give residents a fun and engaging way to discover their inner creativity, connect with others, and reap important mental, emotional, and physical health benefits.
Even if you’ve never picked up a paintbrush, shaped a ceramic bowl, or created anything that you consider art, it’s never too late to ignite a passion that can enhance your life and your wellbeing in so many ways. Not to mention how much fun it can be!
Arts and crafts: a must-have for senior living in Florida.
At St. Mark Village, our residents consider themselves very lucky to live in Palm Harbor, Florida, a beautiful location rich in arts and culture.
Related: Palm Harbor: The Tampa Bay Town That’s Great for Seniors
There’s the wonderful modern and contemporary art you can enjoy in the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art in St. Petersburg College in Tarpon, Florida. The Carrollwood Cultural Center offers fine art, events and performances on stage, and classes. If painting has always called to you, visit The Dunedin Fine Arts Center which offers 1000+ classes and workshops each year.
Such a love of art is one reason so many older adults choose senior living in Florida. It’s easy to be inspired when you are surrounded by blues skies, gorgeous beaches, and happy people.
Related: Palm Harbor’s Arts and Learning Opportunities for Seniors
How older adults benefit from art activities
If you are feeling unsure about just how arts and crafts could benefit you, it might be because you’ve never really had the opportunity to explore the possibilities. Building a career, caring for a family, handling all the ongoing details of home maintenance—it can consume most, if not all, of your time over the years.
Moving to senior living such as St. Mark Village frees up your schedule and introduces you to a new world of freedom, inspiration, and companionship. You’re much more likely to spend time doing what you’ve always wanted to do, as well as what you think you might like to try.
Related: How Seniors Keep Busy in Independent Living Communities
Here are just a few benefits of what art can do for you:
- Improves your memory. The more times you revisit an event, the stronger your memory of that event becomes. Art helps a person stay connected to something that matters. It also helps someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia create new memories by allowing them to create an image that can help trigger a memory in the future.
- Helps you think. Whether it’s sculpture, painting, writing, photography, or just a simple sketch, creating art can help improve cognitive health. Just being in a creative “moment” puts a person in a calmer, deeper state of mind which can make it easier to process thoughts and make decisions.
- Eases your pain. Creating art that symbolizes a specific pain can help a person step back from that pain and understand it better, offering a sense of distance that might help provide some relief as you relax and focus on your art.
- Provides you with more ways to interact with others. Art provides excellent opportunities for sharing experiences and insights with other like-minded individuals. It’s an important benefit and a sound reason why a focus on the arts should be on the wish list for anyone searching for senior living in Florida.
- Reduces stress. According to Sage Neuroscience Center, the main goal of art is to help a person who is struggling relax enough to get in touch with their emotions. By creating art and doing something as simple as coloring, stress levels are seen to drop significantly. And it doesn’t have to be a masterpiece. A few squiggles can say a lot.
- Frees you to express yourself. Words sometimes fall short of getting the true meaning across, especially if a person has experienced a mental or physical decline. Seniors living with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia especially may find art classes are very helpful in communicating with loved ones and caregivers.
- Lifts your mood. Aging can bring many changes; some such as a decline in hearing, problems with mobility, or even just feeling a lack of independence can lead to anxiety and depression. Participating in art classes offers a new outlet for self-expression. It’s a way to bring out inner creativity and unleash the imagination.
As a nonprofit life care community in Pinellas County, St. Mark Village offers you wellness of body, mind, and spirit
You can be as active and involved as you choose, benefiting from a lifestyle that supports you in every way, with a plan that offers seamless access to future care options. A strong attention to the arts is just part of what you will find. Let us tell you more about our outstanding senior living!
Take our Lifestyle Quiz to help discover what matters most to you in senior living or contact us. We’d love to hear from you.
