Exploring the impact of creative expression through interactive art making on older adults’ well-being

ABSTRACT

Research on enhancing healthy aging through art-related activities is a relatively recent phenomenon. We draw inspiration from the ability of interactive art technology to merge electronics into artifacts whose aesthetics are shaped by their craft components. We believe such artifacts hold great potential to engage older adults and significantly improve their daily lives. Therefore, we developed an interactive art-making program for seniors at local assisted-living facilities aimed to enhance cognitive engagement, social connectedness and sense of well-being in older adults. This article examines the physical and mental experience of our participants as they made electronic cards by hand and explores new approaches to electronics construction that leverages the affordances of other related handicrafts.

KEYWORDS:

• Interactive art
• older adults
• creative expression
• art making
• well-being
• social connectedness
• intergenerational relationship

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Dr Jinsil Hwaryoung Seo is an interactive artist/researcher focusing on esthetics of interactive experience. Seo received a PhD from Simon Fraser University. Currently, she is an assistant professor at Texas A&M University.

Dr Lisa Geraci received her PhD from Stony Brook University followed by a post-doctoral fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis. She is currently Associate Professor of Psychology at Texas A&M University.

Tiffany Sanchez received her MFA from Texas A&M University. She integrates traditional craft and physical computing methodologies to create immersive sensorial vignettes bridging body, nature and technology.