Aging INSPIRED!
Aging INSPIRED!
A Vital Living Campaign for the Community, by the Community
The mission of the URAI is to promote vitality in aging by transforming care and communities through discovery, learning, collaboration and innovation. We are committed to promoting health, independence, and engagement of older adults, enabling all of us to live our best lives. This is what we fondly refer to as “Aging INSPIRED!”
Engagement with the arts, both as consumers and creators, is a powerful way to promote vitality in later life. Having explored the relationships between vital aging and music in partnership with the Eastman School of Music in 2023, we now shift our attention to engaging older adults in a series of activities focused on the visual arts.
Visual Arts
Both viewing and creating art can have many benefits, including improved mental health, creativity, and critical thinking skills.
Dance and Movement
Explore the role dancing can play in enabling all of us to live our best lives as we age.
Music
In 2023, URAI hosted its first Aging INSPIRED! event featuring a jazz band comprised of older musicians and a panel discussion with legendary bassist, Ron Carter.
Aging INSPIRED! 2025
Engaging with the arts is a powerful way to promote vitality in later life. The University of Rochester Aging Institute hosted a free community engagement event to celebrate aging and the visual arts at the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester, NY.
Video of the UR Aging Institute’s Signature Event
Welcome and Greetings
- Sarah Jesse, Director, of the Memorial Art Gallery
- Adam Bello, Monroe County Executive
- Malik Evans, Mayor, City of Rochester
- Annette Medina-Walpole, MD, Director of the UR Aging Institute
The Value of the Visual Arts and Aging
- Yeates Conwell, MD, Professor of Psychiatry, URMC
- Carol Podgorski, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry, URMC
Engaging with Visual Arts through Artists’ Eyes
- Facilitator: Delores Jackson Radney, MAGConnect
- Artists: Luvon Sheppard, Denise Heischman, Rachel Edwards, Susan Alexis Tkach
- Closing Remarks - Carol Podgorski, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry, URMC; Yeates Conwell, MD, Professor of Psychiatry, URMC
Age-Friendly Community Resources
Through the Aging INSPIRED! campaign, our goal is to encourage older adults to engage in arts, both as consumers and creators. The Greater Rochester area is rich with programs and resources for aging with vitality. From classes and workshops to museums and performances, there’s something for everyone seeking the best quality of life, regardless of age.