Who said art was strictly for artists? A new Program that encourages active participation in the arts from the elderly is growing in popularity because of marked improvements in the participants’ physical and emotional well-being.

Instead of being passive viewers of choirs or plays at nursing homes, the elderly have been singing and writing and acting in the plays themselves. In the program, seniors are encouraged to take part in dance sessions as well, and the improved interaction has resulted in decreases in pain and feelings of loneliness, while increasing mobility. Seniors from 36 facilities  have come up with 300 original songs, all of which they’ve either written lyrics to or composed melodies for.

Even patients suffering from dementia have been contributing to storytelling exercises.  A photograph is shown to residents to start off the discussion, then open-ended questions are posed and the responses crafted into a story that is then read back to the residents.

Read more about the program here.