Creativity and connection: how create supports older adults

Later life can bring significant change: from retirement and reduced mobility to the loss of routine and social networks. For many older adults, these shifts can lead to increased isolation and fewer opportunities to try new things or connect with others. Research shows that nearly a million older people feel disconnected from their communities, with limited opportunities to take part in activities that support their wellbeing.

According to research by the University of New Hampshire, social isolation can lead to significant damage to physical health, increasing the risk of heart disease by 29%, stroke by 32% and dementia by 50%. Creative activity offers a powerful way to counter this – creating shared experiences that bring people together, build confidence and support wellbeing.

Building confidence through creativity

For many participants, our professionally-led creative workshops are an opportunity to try something new.

Yan* (78) took part in our art:links collage project in Westminster, led by our artist Anna Clarke. Yan shared:

“I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to do creative things. But this time, I thought ‘why don’t I give myself a chance to try it?’”

As her confidence grew, so did her sense of achievement:

“I’m just so pleased with the result. It’s a good challenge – if I don’t challenge myself now, when will I?”

In Tower Hamlets, May participated in our creative:links ceramics project with our ceramics artist Liz Jackson. Like Yan, she discovered new possibilities through creativity:

“I’ve never made a pinch pot before. I’ve learned that you can do so many more things with ceramics. I wouldn’t have dreamed of drawing something like this before, because I would have thought ‘I can’t draw’. But I’ve learned that I can do things like this now.”

Curtis* (87), took part in our art:links visual arts project in Haringey, also led by Liz Jackson, and was surprised by what he was able to achieve:

“[Creativity] keeps the brain going, it makes you socialise. I didn’t know that I could do this. I learned that I could create so many things!”

Reducing isolation and creating community

A key part of Create’s work is bringing people together. When participants share a creative goal, it becomes easier to connect and form relationships.

Yan described the importance of doing the project as a group:

“The group is amazing. I made a couple of friends and you get ideas and feedback from them. It’s really important that we’ve met, because most of us are not working now. So this helps us interact.”

Similarly, May reflected on the social aspect of the ceramic project:

“Making things and listening to everyone else is amazing. I enjoyed working with this rest of the group. You can chat to them and it was kind of cheerful.”

For Curtis, the sense of belonging was particularly meaningful:

“It’s nice to have young people around because I’m an old man and it makes me feel like I belong.”

Creativity and wellbeing

For older adults, creativity can offer a vital route to connection, confidence and self-expression. By working alongside professional artists and peers, participants are supported to try new things, build relationships and rediscover a sense of purpose.

Yan shared her personal experience:

“[When I’m creative] I feel satisfaction. I did something I’ve never done before in my life. All my life I’ve been an active person, being physical, but this [project] has helped me create something from my brain – it’s more mental. This mental wellbeing is important. It helps me to think ‘maybe I can create some more things.’ I’m being more open now and it helps me [reflect] inwardly.”

Similarly, Curtis expressed how important having the experience was for him:

“I enjoyed every single thing [about this project] and it made me feel so good inside. To work with a professional artist is something [unexpected] and it’s very good. I don’t have to think about anything else [when I’m creating art], and whatever experience I have, I can pass it on.”

As Curtis so powerfully puts it:

“Life is not just for one person, life is for everyone.”

Thank you to City Bridge Foundation, Grosvenor Property UK, Hyde Park Place Estate Charity, Reed Smith and Westminster Almshouses Foundation for funding these projects.