This session will focus on visual art and the power of creativity and the arts to empower anyone struggling with a mental health condition. We will further highlight how this work allows for the exploration of thought and emotions in a safe and supportive environment with a focus on our older adult community. Participants tap into and celebrate their creativity while interacting and learning from their peers and helping audience members of all ages see older adults in a new light and help people recognize their own biases about aging. It touches the heart of the audience and helps other older adults realize they are not alone. Music, theater, dance, creative writing and other participatory arts show promise for improving older adults’ quality of life and well-being, from better cognitive function, memory and self-esteem to reduce stress and increase social interaction.
Learning Objectives:
- Examine how improvisational drama can improve older adult’s quality of life and well-being.
- Analyze improvisational drama experience demonstration.
- Identify strategies to implement similar arts programing to support older adult mental health
Eligible for 1 CE with live participation
Kari Benson (Moderator)
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aging
Administration on Aging
As the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aging, Kari Benson leads the Administration on Aging in advocating on behalf of older Americans. In this capacity, she guides and promotes the development of home and community-based services and healthy aging programs, policies, and services designed to afford older people and their caregivers the ability to age with dignity and independence and to have a broad array of options available for an enhanced quality of life.
Kari's entire career has been in the aging network. Prior to rejoining ACL, Kari served as the director of the Aging and Adult Services Division of the Minnesota Department of Human Services and as the executive director of the Minnesota Board on Aging.
Kari holds a bachelor's degree in human ecology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master's degree in public policy from the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs from the University of Minnesota.
Susan Berger
Aging System Coordinator
Sarasota County Government
Susan Berger serves as the Aging System Coordinator for Sarasota County Government. She is responsible for coordination and implementing Sarasota’s Age-Friendly Initiative. Her professional background includes more than 35 years working on behalf of older adults and is passionate about connecting with community to advance age-friendly efforts. Sue is a Certified Dementia Practitioner, a Master Trainer for A Matter of Balance® and serves as the staff liaison to the Seniors Advisory Council. She was on the founding board of the Sarasota Senior Advocacy Council and collaborates with the Department of Health in Sarasota on the Community Health Improvement Plan, Healthy Brain Initiative, Falls Prevention and Age-Friendly Public Health.
Hedda Matza-Haughton
President
"For the Health of It" Consultation Services
Hedda Matza-Haughton, LCSW, a consultant, health educator, social worker, national speaker, award winning playwright and specialist in drama and creativity through laughter, is the President of “For the Health of It” Consultation Services, which promotes the health of organizations, businesses, and individuals in an electrifying, “out of the box” non-traditional manner, integrating the arts to promote health and education and explore a variety of health and social concerns. She utilizes interactive improvisational drama to tap into participant’s creative abilities in a fun, playful, and inspiring atmosphere, as an essential component in providing programming for organizations and individuals of all ages. Her work facilitates an increase in problem solving and creative thinking skills in dealing with a variety of personal life, business, community, management and organizational situations. She has appeared on local and national TV, and national conferences concerning her two nationally acclaimed programs, “Laugh for the Health of It,” and “Words Not Spoken.” Ms. Matza- Haughton is a teaching artist in the Artists in Schools Program in Sarasota, and one of the founders and current Co-chair of Arts For Health Sarasota-Manatee, Inc. She has also written and performed an award winning one act play entitled, Inner Voices: Sex, Intimacy, and Aging.
Carrie Seidman
Director
FACEing Mental Illness
Carrie Seidman is the creator, writer and host of the FACEing Mental Illness newsletter, podcast and project (faceingmi.substack.com) which features stories from and performances by people with lived mental health experience. A graduate of the Columbia University School of Journalism, she is an award winning newspaper reporter, critic and columnist who has been on staff at the New York Times, Los Angeles Herald-Examiner, Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque Tribune and Sarasota Herald Tribune. She currently hosts the live radio show, “Talk of the Town,” on WSLR in Sarasota, Florida. Her books include “A Place at the Table: Memories of a Life Well-Fed” and “FACEing Mental Illness: The Art of Acceptance.” She is currently at work on a memoir.
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Session
05/01/2025 at 11:15 AM (EDT) | 60 minutes
05/01/2025 at 11:15 AM (EDT) | 60 minutes
