Creating Positive Perceptions of Aged Communities by Combining Creative Practice and Social Media

Abstract

This paper represents work in progress with aged communities, on a project to promote positive attributes of experience, wisdom, and leadership to counterbalance the perceived challenges of aging by changing negative perceptions of aged societies. We aimed to encourage positive ageing by harnessing the collaborative creative potential of this demographic through the introduction of concepts around the notion of deliberate creative practice. We wanted to make a case for how these communities are empowered to participate in identifying issues and challenges over a wide spectrum of social and community applications affecting their lifestyles and wellbeing, then generating new ideas to be disseminated through social media platforms.