ITHACA, N.Y. -- Ithaca College's Gerontology Institute is trying to change the way people view the elderly by launching a new center that's focused on keeping seniors creative.

The Linden Center for Creativity and Aging will be one of the first to try this approach, since most universities focus on medical research.

The center will develop programs around the arts and work with community organizations like Ithaca's Longview nursing home.

"I think socially we are engaging in a demographic challenge in the aging of the baby boom and we need to make a transition into a new way of looking at aging. So we need to develop a new paradigm where instead of seeing aging as loss, we see aging as something that involves gain," says Ithaca College Gerontology Institute Director John Kraut.

"For sure creativity and the arts is something that Ithaca's really know for as well as gerontology. And, we'd been thinking about doing something that combined the arts and the elder, aging population," says Linden Center Namesakes Judith and Jay Linden.
The Linden's are both Ithaca College alums. They are funding the center. Judith Linden is also an IC board member.