Published October 4, 2024

Arts for All Ages: Lifelong Learning and Entertainment for Our Region’s Seniors

by Dennyse Sewell

Here at the Pioneer Center, we are fortunate to own and operate a historic theater that is dedicated to bringing our community together for shared arts experiences. You could say that above all else, we are in the business of fostering connection and togetherness. We often engage in conversation with our staff and Board members about how to expand those moments of connection and togetherness to as many people in our region as possible. We know that many members of our community may face economic, geographic, mobility, language, or other types of barriers that prevent them from joining us at the Pioneer Center for the myriad programs that bring our stage to life. When considering the creation of new programs or services for our non-profit, we always begin with the essential question of where there is the most need.

In March of 2022, a report called the Seniors Quality of Life Survey from the HELLO Project was released through a collaborative data-gathering effort by Renown Health, Washoe County Health District, Truckee Meadows Tomorrow, and UNR Sanford Center for Aging. This report focused on a survey of Washoe County residents and found that a staggering 76.5% of seniors feel isolated, 77.1% feel left out, 76.5% have barriers to community participation, and the rate of suicide among seniors in our community is double the national average. This information triggered a profound emotional response from the Pioneer Center team. Having just come through the global pandemic when all of us across the world experienced isolation and loneliness, we were devastated to know that many seniors right here in Washoe County continue to feel a loss of connection and meaning in their lives.

The overwhelming realization of the findings spurred us to action—how could we help?

It is no secret that arts engagement provides direct health benefits and promotes a cohesive community. Arts therapy is common practice worldwide, especially in senior populations. Sing-alongs help those with Alzheimer’s Disease and moderate to severe signs of dementia to boost brain function and memory recall. Dance and movement aids in maintaining motor skills. Laughter stimulates the heart and lungs, also releasing endorphins. Coming together for shared arts experiences can battle mental illness struggles like depression and feelings of loneliness.  According to Americans for the Arts, a national arts advocacy group based in Washington DC, the positive effects of arts engagement also bring benefits to care partners and health systems by reducing hospital stays and drug dependencies.

With our 55-year history of bringing people together for shared arts experiences and our relationships with many talented performing artists in our region, we jumped at the opportunity to build a new outreach program specifically designed to target the statistics identified in the HELLO Project report. We are driven by the deeply-held belief that the arts have a unique and powerful ability to enhance all of our lives, and this information about our local senior population gave us the inspiration we needed in order to thoughtfully and strategically approach the creation of a new outreach initiative. With help from the generosity of the Washoe County Community Reinvestment Grant Program, we launched Golden Encore, a lifelong learning entertainment program for seniors, in November 2023.

Golden Encore brings professional performing artists directly to our community’s seniors where they already live, congregate, or receive care. This includes senior centers, assisted living facilities, residential community centers, nursing homes, memory care facilities, rehabilitation centers, public libraries, and more. Local artists hired for the Golden Encore roster provide interactive programs filled with music, movement, history, and storytelling. We provide all of our artists with specialized trainings from field experts in geriatrics to ensure they are able to adapt their programs to meet the differing needs of each type of venue. Each Golden Encore program includes expert-endorsed components known to have a positive effect on the mental and physical health of seniors—but for the audience members who attend Golden Encore programs, the experience is all about sharing, interaction, and fun!

Since launching Golden Encore less than one year ago, nearly 3,000 Washoe County senior patrons have already attended 95 different performances across 22 partner venues.  And we are just getting started!  This season, we are excited to present a total of seven local artist groups on the Golden Encore roster:

1. Musical trio ARIA 51 combines classical and folk instruments with singing to create unique arrangements of a variety of musical styles “from Rock to Bach.”
    
2. Jazz musicians ERIKA PAUL & DAVID ALLER recall 20^th Century artists and jazz standards from the Great American Songbook.
    
3. Dancer/actress HEATHER BONI LEMMONS welcomes patrons to the Choreography Café as tap-dancing waitress Dana.  Heather is also our full-time Education Manager at the Pioneer Center and facilitates the Golden Encore program.
    
4. Local entertainment historian KAREN BURNS presents her renowned costume collection and behind-the-scenes “and seams” stories about the world-famous stage show Hello Hollywood, Hello!
    
5. IN-TUNE TALES with SCOT MARSHALL combines storytelling, comedy, and excellent musicianship to connect the dots of the evolution of American music.  
    
6. RETRO RADIO DOLLS presents “Andrews Sisters style” vocal arrangements of classic and modern popular music.
    
7. Carson City-based duo KANTU INKA shares the music and culture of the Andes region of Peru.
    

Several groups from the roster will also be offering special holiday-themed performance programs in November and December of this year, and we can’t wait to receive feedback from the participating venues to hear about the added positive impact of connection and joy around the holiday season.

Although the issues of isolation, loneliness, loss of connection, and lack of meaning are terribly complex problems that require multiple forms of intervention, we know that the arts are part of the collaborative solution. Anyone who has ever experienced a live arts performance has felt the transformational power of those moments shared with their neighbors, friends, and family. By creating the Golden Encore outreach program and providing engaging arts programming in senior-focused facilities throughout our region, we are taking a step toward building the better future that our elders deserve. All of us on the Pioneer Center team are proud of this new initiative and we are honored to share it with the people of northern Nevada. We encourage you to attend one of the upcoming Golden Encore programs at a public library near you; the schedule is available on the Golden Encore page of our website. If you have suggestions for additional partner venues for Golden Encore as our program expands in future years, we’d love to hear from you!

Dennyse Sewell is the CEO of the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts in Reno, Nevada

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