Creative Aging Takes Hold in the Northwest

An innovative group based in Seattle is exploring what it means to grow older in our society. The Northwest Center for Creative Aging (NCCA) provides the opportunity to share life experiences, concerns about aging, and to learn from the wisdom of others.

Formed in 2007, NCCA is based on successful programs from around the country. It serves as a resource center for programs and activities related to creative aging. This past year NCCA events attracted hundreds of people from throughout the region. Participants gathered to talk about the experience of aging with a sense of purpose, adapting to changing circumstances, and maintaining deeper connections with the people in life who matter.

How did the Center begin? 65-year old Nancy Edquist explains that a spark of inspiration came when she read Creative Aging: A Meaning-Making Perspective, by Mary Baird Carlsen.

"I took a class on Aging Resources at Berkeley one summer week in the early 90's and one of the texts was Mary’s book. I was so taken with the book and its theme that when I returned to Seattle I brazenly called her and asked for a time to meet her.”

The author lived in Seattle. "She was gracious enough to agree to a breakfast meeting, and from that time forward we began to become colleagues and friends,” says Nancy. "A few years later, when I became involved in the first attempt to start a creative aging initiative in the Seattle area, I learned that Mary had been a mentor to John Gibson.” John, a consultant and life coach, had been using the term "successful aging” in workshops he led for his practice, Lifestyles by Design. John convened the first steering group for what would eventually become the Northwest Center for Creative Aging.

NCCA offers a range of programs, including facilitator training to lead small group discussions on creative aging topics.

"The vision has always been to empower conversations around creative aging and to provide thought-provoking, helpful resources,” says Nancy. "It's exciting and humbling to be a facilitator of a group where participants 'bare their souls' in sharing struggles and hopes, discouragements,” she adds. [There are] "many ‘aha moments’ as they see new perspectives and renewal of possibilities for living well into their aging adventures.”

Carol Charles, NCCA executive director, agrees. "We bring together people of multiple generations to honor and learn from inspiring elders. It's exciting to see a new effort to link people together in ways that add purpose, meaning and quality to our aging selves. Our organization offers volunteers the chance to help develop a new organization in the Northwest.”

The groups are small enough to allow sharing - from 8 to 15 persons, and generally meet for four to six sessions. "We've generated a lot of interest about our intentional conversation groups,” reports Carol. "This is a unique program that we plan to ‘seed’ all over the area.”

Sample questions from a recent discussion group include: What do you want to do with the rest of your life? In what way does life get better as we get older?

78-year old Barbara Frederick, retired executive director of Cancer Lifeline, has attended several discussion groups.

"I was very impressed with the skilled facilitator,” says Barbara. "The subject matter was interesting. The participants were, by and large, very thoughtful, open and quite fun. The discussion was stimulating with lots of humor and acceptance of different life experience,” she adds.

Barbara says that the participants at her table "liked each other so much that we have met again to catch up on what each of us is doing and to share ideas about what NCCA could do in the future.” When asked if she would recommend the experience to others, she replies, "Absolutely! It's a great way to meet interesting people who are committed to continuing their education, sharing their life experiences and supporting one another. NCCA is an organization totally committed to providing a quality experience for participants.”

Barbara values the opportunity to interact with participants from a diversity of ages and backgrounds. "The workshops often include the possibility for older and younger people to attend. Every age group is welcome. What makes it so interesting is that as I grow older I really appreciate being able to have a serious discussion. It is vital to be engaged as you age,” she says.

She gave a specific example of how one discussion proved helpful in providing ideas for interacting with her teenage grandchildren. The idea involved having her grandchildren show her how they are using some of the popular social networking sites available on the Internet. This interaction provided her the opportunity to relate her grandchildren’s experiences back to her own stories and family photos. "It worked!” she says. In addition to providing valuable lessons that enhance her personal life, she finds the discussion groups to be fun. "There is a lot of humor in growing older – you might as well be able to laugh.”

The accumulated wisdom from the discussion groups will be shared at the annual creative aging forum in the fall of 2009.

The Northwest Center for Creative Aging is based at Horizon House, a premier retirement community in Seattle’s First Hill neighborhood. Horizon House, located at 900 University Street, Seattle, continues to be instrumental in helping to support the development of NCCA.

Interested in participating in a Creative Aging Conversation Group? NCCA will bring discussion groups and workshops to community centers, churches, senior centers and retirement facilities. Anyone interested in participating in a group, training as a leader, or offering space for a group or workshop should contact Carol Charles, Executive Director at 206-382-3789 or at info@nwcreativeaging.org. For more information about NCCA’s programs or to become a member, visit www.nwcreativeaging.org.

This article appeared in the December 2007 issue of Northwest Prime Time, the Puget Sound region’s monthly publication celebrating life after 50