Accessibility to arts, culture and lifelong learning stimulates the brain, improves overall health, encourages community engagement and improves socialization. This is our time to use our earned leisure and accumulated wisdom for creativity and social engagement. Providing opportunities as we age to take art classes, attend concerts or take classes allows us the ability to engage our minds in a variety of activities that can also improve mental health. Studies have also shown that when older adults engage in mentally stimulating activities their health can improve, leading to a reduction in medications and overall healthcare costs. Engaging in lifelong learning and creative activities also energizes our communities by recognizing older adults as valuable resources and intelligent decision-makers in our communities. Providing opportunities such as these benefit the entire community and make our community a more attractive place to live and visit. (Frameworks Institute, 2017)
**In order to maximize your communication and productivity with your audience, please reference the best practices created by The Frameworks Institute on the Characteristics main page.
Data to inform the discussion around this characteristic.
- Presence of lifelong learning opportunities (potential data source: Area Agency on Aging)
- Cultural vitality indicators
Activities to help contextualize this characteristic.
- The Healing Power of Art: use article for a discussion about decreases in medication use and increases in health because of art, or other article connecting arts and culture to well-being.
- AARP survey on Lifelong Learning: Page 122 has the list of questions about ways adults learn. Ask,“how do you think you would respond as an older adults in your community to these questions?”
Success Stories from local communities.
- Fe University: Living LiFe Learning Longer: Iron County UW-Extension, with the help of local leaders, responded to the interest and need in learning opportunities for older adults.
- Kewaunee Artisan Center
- Learning in Retirement or Lifelong Learning Programs, such as the one at Nicolet College in Rhinelander.
Resources and other ideas for next steps.
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