10/18/2025
“I love coming to InnovAge because I’m surrounded by friends that really mean a lot to me…and they’re all doing artwork, and their work is wonderful.”
“It keeps me mentally alert. It keeps my hands working. I used to use a walker. Now I use a cane – occasionally! That’s how much InnovAge has helped me.”
“It keeps me busy. It’s colorful, it’s fun, and other people love it!”
On a recent Great Day Colorado TV segment, participants at InnovAge Colorado PACE – Thornton not only displayed their artwork. They shared their feelings about how art improves their mental, social, and emotional well-being.
“Art therapy is a great opportunity for our participants to express themselves,” says Linda Whyte, Director at the Thornton center. “And through their art, they are able to improve their cognitive functioning, increase their memory, and their social skills are enhanced. Art has also been proven to help with grief, depression, and even loss of loved ones. So art therapy is really profound and active in our centers.”
As an exciting addition to the program, the Thornton center is gearing up for its 2nd annual Senior Art Show, tomorrow, October 18. Wood carving, canvas art, sewing, crochet, drawing, sketches, holiday jewelry, and much more are for sale by the artists, who receive 100% of the proceeds.
Linda explains that this is a point of pride for participants, and provides a little extra money for many who are part of a low-income population: “Imagine how they’re going to feel being able to buy their grandchild a gift, or even just going to have a burger and fries with their loved ones, based on the little extra money they’ve made from the art show.”
Learn more about the importance of art therapy as well as the upcoming Senior Art Show in this GDC segment: https://tinyurl.com/5hjy4596