Creative Aging
About the Program
SAACA believes the Arts has an impact—physically, emotionally, economically, and educationally—on the lives of service members, Veterans, seniors, families, aging communities, healthcare providers, and the community.
The Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance continues to establish, fund and develop dynamic, groundbreaking community arts programs which utilize the Creative Arts as a form of therapy as well as life-long learning and quality of life enrichment in our aging communities.
Established in 2013, SAACA’s Creative Aging Program applies integrative art methods to stimulate healing through music, writing and visual art techniques to promote healing, encourage social inclusion and self-sustainability, and provide rehabilitation and development opportunities for program participants.
Due to the success of the program, SAACA has expanded our efforts into Assisted Living Facilities, Retirement Communities, Hospitals and Rehabilitation Center settings to work directly with individuals who are coping with temporary and permanent disabilities related to post-traumatic stress syndrome, memory care, depression and anxiety, aging and life transition support, rehabilitation and brain trauma injuries as well as quality of life enhancement.
To achieve a balanced, comprehensive and individualized outreach, SAACA administers a series of diverse programs to support each of the unique aging communities in Southern Arizona.
SAACA believes the Arts has an impact—physically, emotionally, economically, and educationally—on the lives of service members, Veterans, seniors, families, aging communities, healthcare providers, and the community.
The Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance continues to establish, fund and develop dynamic, groundbreaking community arts programs which utilize the Creative Arts as a form of therapy as well as life-long learning and quality of life enrichment in our aging communities.
Established in 2013, SAACA’s Creative Aging Program applies integrative art methods to stimulate healing through music, writing and visual art techniques to promote healing, encourage social inclusion and self-sustainability, and provide rehabilitation and development opportunities for program participants.
Due to the success of the program, SAACA has expanded our efforts into Assisted Living Facilities, Retirement Communities, Hospitals and Rehabilitation Center settings to work directly with individuals who are coping with temporary and permanent disabilities related to post-traumatic stress syndrome, memory care, depression and anxiety, aging and life transition support, rehabilitation and brain trauma injuries as well as quality of life enhancement.
To achieve a balanced, comprehensive and individualized outreach, SAACA administers a series of diverse programs to support each of the unique aging communities in Southern Arizona.
Arts Care Packages
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The Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance (SAACA) has assembled a community-wide Arts Care Package Campaign to provide assisted living communities and hospital patients with a diverse array of creative experiences including music, craft kits, journaling and DIY arts projects, all designed for residents to enjoy from the comfort of their own rooms.
The individually wrapped and sanitized packages were all assembled from an overwhelming response of donations from local artists, makers and musicians, as well as SAACA partner Bookman’s Entertainment Exchange. The program was envisioned to provide much needed support during the COVID-19 pandemic, as a response to the timely need of our most vulnerable populations during a time of isolation. |
Let It Ring
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A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT MUSIC THERAPY & PTSD
In association with the Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance, "Let It Ring" is a documentary collaboration between a number of organizations across the country including Warrior Songs, Guitars for Vets, Flutes for Vets and many more who helped bring this story to light. The project, written and directed by David Seeber, is a short documentary about the profound and powerful impact that music therapy can have on veterans struggling with PTSD. This intimate film brings together the personal stories of veterans and organizations that are working hand in hand to bring the gift of music to those who need it most. SAACA is proud to be featured in the documentary and will be supporting the 2020 release with featured viewings and discussions with the director at CATALYST Arts & Maker Space. “AFTER VIETNAM, I SLIPPED INTO A PTSD CONDITION FOR OVER 45 YEARS; WITHOUT THE MUSIC I WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED.”
— BEAU GERARD, VETERAN & MUSICIAN A TOOL FOR HEALING — AND DEBATE
"The arts have long been turned to as a tool for healing by many for a number of psychological and physical conditions, but it continues to face scrutiny by some in the public and medical communities. Some supporters take the term “arts therapy” more loosely, believing in a more spiritual and personal process of healing through the arts. Other supporters argue that “arts therapy” can only truly be called “therapy” if it’s strictly administrated by a certified and educated professional. When we started production on Let It Ring, our stance was simple — show the raw stories and impact of music therapy from those who have experienced it firsthand. The choice to focus specifically on music therapy’s effects on veterans suffering from PTSD arose from the overwhelming number of inspiring stories that came to us from the moment the project began. Our goal is to encourage more people to explore tools like music therapy so that, hopefully, we can see increased funding and thus even greater developments throughout the field." - David Seeber, Paczka Digital |
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Music & Memory Program
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In 2015, the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance partnered with MUSIC & MEMORY℠, to bring this life changing program to Southern Arizona.
SAACA administers the program in local memory care facilities in the region. The approach is simple, elegant and effective: Set up personalized music playlists for those in memory care programs and residences and download the selections on iPods or other digital devices. When played, these musical favorites tap deep memories not lost to dementia and can bring participants back to life, enabling them to feel like themselves again, to converse, socialize and stay present. |
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Lifelong Learning
At SAACA, we know the impact the arts have each day in our community. More than anything, we see first-hand how the arts improve the lives of individuals by using a creative aging approach. We partner with local retirement, assisted living and independent senior facilities to provide arts instruction and classes with the goal of improving quality of life support and life-long learning initiatives.
Arts Therapy
Facilitating the use of ground-breaking Creative Arts Therapies for seniors, Veterans, and individuals with disabilities in our community, the Creative Arts Therapies Program utilizes an integrative method to provide healing through the arts using music, writing, visual arts and community arts components.
Veterans Programming
Through a unique partnership with the Veterans Administration of Southern Arizona and the Arizona State Veterans Home, each year SAACA provides the opportunity for over 5,000 Veterans to become involved in the arts by presenting free onsite programs such as:
∙ Creative Arts Festival
∙ Veterans Day Celebration
∙ Military Week Celebration
∙ Music and Visual Arts Therapy Programming
∙ Live Music Performances
∙ Veterans Community Gallery Projects
Underwrite the development of our creative arts program in partnership with the Veterans Administration and the Arizona State Veterans Home.
∙ Creative Arts Festival
∙ Veterans Day Celebration
∙ Military Week Celebration
∙ Music and Visual Arts Therapy Programming
∙ Live Music Performances
∙ Veterans Community Gallery Projects
Underwrite the development of our creative arts program in partnership with the Veterans Administration and the Arizona State Veterans Home.