Seeing concerts and chasing celebrities can be an effective way for elderly people to stay young and healthy, as it gives them new motivation to learn, go out, and interact with others, arts advocates and mental health experts said.
Wu Tzu-yi (吳滋懿), an art critic and the founder of Jil Wu Artiste, advocates for arts-based wellness and making art accessible.
She said she knows a group of retirees who seem to have frozen their age around 45 by immersing themselves in art and following South Korean celebrities.
Photo courtesy of Grandma Xiami via CNA
“Standing in front of the original artwork is very important,” Wu said, adding that entering an art museum to see original works stimulates the senses, recharges the brain and brings vitality.
Attending a concert and seeing celebrities in person produces a similar effect, she said.
Arts-based wellness differs from art therapy, a clinical practice that requires a physician, as it is suitable for anyone who wants to protect their mental health, Wu added.
It can be a life-support system for anyone, especially those 65 and older who are feeling unsettled after retirement and could be valuable for Taiwan’s super-aging society, she said.
To get closer to their favorite art and artists, older fans put themselves in new environments, learn new languages and cultures, make new friends, or join fan communities, she said, adding that music, dance and film connect them across cultural, language and generational divides
“Understanding each other across generations is the most healing thing in the world,” Wu said.
One’s well-being and mental health affect physical health, helping to delay functional decline, she added.
By instilling the concept of cultural access in people from a young age, there would be more possibilities for elderly people to lead healthy lives in the future, she said.
One elderly woman immersing themselves in art is the 80-year-old YouTuber Grandma Xiami (蝦米娘娘), who proves that there is no age limit to chasing celebrities.
Xiami in January attended a live concert for the first time, fulfilling her dream by seeing the K-pop girl group Twice’s world tour in Vancouver.
She said she initially wanted to better understand the idol culture of the younger generation, and now has personally experienced that music, dance and fashion have no age limit.
Another example is Veronica, now almost 65, who has watched dramas and K-pop idol groups to better understand her children’s world.
She said she loves the K-pop girl group Blackpink and is the biggest fan of its member Jennie, who inspires her to work out, eat healthy and live an exciting life.
Meanwhile, 84-year-old Chen is a huge fan of the K-pop boy group Super Junior.
She said that when her partner died a few years ago, her children started getting her to watch variety shows to help her mood, and she ended up falling in love with Super Junior when they appeared on a show.
Chen regularly goes to the hospital for dementia assessments, and she said the doctor always praises her condition.
One of her biggest motivations for staying healthy is to be able to keep watching Super Junior’s concerts, she said.
She recalled she was nervous when she first went to their concert, but young people warmly greeted her when queuing to enter the venue and even said they could accompany her at the concert.
Chen said she focuses on her health, so she can meet her idols, playing Super Junior’s music when she exercises every morning and when she is at home.
The biggest threat to most elderly people is not physical decline, but thinking that they have no purpose anymore, formal social worker Wu Su-fen (吳素芬) said, adding that when elderly people have a clear goal, their entire disposition is different.
Some seniors go to concerts with their grandchildren, while chasing celebrities gives others a new goal and reason to leave the house, psychologist Huang Hsun-yuan (黃薰緣) said.
Learning a new language, figuring out how to get concert tickets, and remembering audience choreography gives elderly people a sense of accomplishment and confidence that no medication can, Huang said.
For those just starting out or families who have doubts, it can help to acknowledge the courage it takes elderly people to try something new, she said.
“For many people, this is not just entertainment; it’s a way to prove that they can still learn and interact with others,” Huang said.
While fandom can give older adults new goals, it is important to watch for imbalance, she said.
Families can look out for disruptions from daily routines such as lost sleep from following idol news and excessive spending on merchandise, she added.
It could also be problematic if the elderly person’s social circle shrinks to only fellow fans, and they spend less time with family and friends, Huang said.
Family members can offer companionship and understanding, so elderly people know they are not alone, she said.
Once they feel supported and emotionally stable, it becomes easier to discuss lifestyle adjustments or future plans, she added.
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