Improvisation while Aging

AbstractBackgroundArtistic interventions have potential to fundamentally improve the cognitive, emotional, and social functioning of older adults. Improvisation is based on spontaneous interaction, where individuals co‐create and interact without pre‐planning. While improvisation in cognitive and mental health interventions has become more popular, there is no review to synthesize its impact on older adults.MethodsWe reviewed the literature and summarized the effects of improvisation on the cognitive, emotional, and social well‐being of older adults.ResultsThere is now a substantial body of literature on the emotional and cognitive benefits for adults without dementia. Community‐dwelling older adults (N = 78) that participated in 12 weeks of improv combined with life review techniques demonstrated a decrease in depressive symptoms, and an increase in well‐being and meaning in life (Keisari, Palgi,et al., 2022). Older adults who participated in a 9‐min mirror‐game exercise (N = 34) had improved attentional functioning and positive affect compared to those who attended a physical activity class (Keisari, Feniger‐Schaal, et al., 2022). Two single‐group studies with older adults (N = 15, 45) showed that participation in improvisation yielded significant improvements in social isolation and perceived stress (Lindquist et al., 2021), sense of spontaneity, flow, playfulness (Bassis et al., 2022). One qualitative study suggested that the participants experienced more attentiveness, relaxation, and increased stimulation and communication following improvisation practice (Lindquist et al., 2021). Other qualitative studies showed that improvisation can help build community, increase positivity, sense of comfort and ease with the unexpected, a sense of self‐development and self‐awareness (Morse et al., 2018; Yamamoto, 2020).There is also growing evidence that older adults with dementia benefit from improv interventions. Older adults participating in improvisation interventions have experienced a reduction in depressive symptoms and increase in positive affect (N = 178; Zeisel et al., 2018). One qualitative study showed that improvisation with older adults with early stage dementia have therapeutic benefits such as improvements in learning, sociability, communication and self‐esteem (Stevens, 2012).ConclusionThere is sufficient evidence that improv as an approach to improve thecognitive, emotional, and social well‐being of older adults has strong potential and warrants further study.