Arts colonies offer a creative, whole-person wellness alternative for independent living by Marilynn Larkin, MA

The benefits gained by involvement in the arts, particularly for older adults, cannot be underestimated. The late Gene Cohen, MD, PhD, a pioneering geriatric psychiatrist, and colleagues demonstrated the impact of cultural programs participation on the physical, mental and social health and functioning of older adults in a landmark study initiated in 2001. Inspired in part by Cohen’s research, California-based visionaries Tim Carpenter and John Huskey have created a model of senior housing focused on arts amenities and programs.