NEPA Philharmonic & Partners Launch RxArts NEPA in Lackawanna County

 The NEPA Philharmonic — in collaboration with United Way of Lackawanna, Wayne & Pike Counties; the Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging; Age Friendly Lackawanna; and Marywood University Music Therapy & Visual Art Therapy — announces the launch of RxArts NEPA, one of Pennsylvania’s first dedicated arts prescription programs for older adults.

The innovative pilot initiative is designed to connect under-resourced adults age 55 and older with meaningful arts experiences that promote mental health, enhance quality of life, and combat loneliness and social isolation. The program provides six free daytime arts events over a six-month period, featuring a variety of arts disciplines based on participant artistic preferences and wellness priorities, to include music, visual art, drama, and other creative experiences. A two-year economic and qualitative analysis on the impacts of the program is underway in partnership with The Institute.

The program is currently open to Lackawanna County residents age 55 and older along with their caregivers, with priority given to low-income individuals and those with limited access to social and artistic opportunities. Events for the inaugural cohort will be free and held monthly on select Tuesday afternoons from September through February at Marywood University; food and transportation assistance will be available to ensure accessibility for participants in need. Interested and eligible participants or care providers can submit a free referral for themselves or someone else, available at https://agefriendlylackawanna.com/arts-therapy/.

“Arts prescribing is a creative way to reduce and combat social isolation among older adults,” says Sara McDonald, Director of the Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging. “Through this partnership with the NEPA Philharmonic, older adults and caregivers will connect to meaningful activities, programs, and social activities aimed at creating social connections, building a sense of belonging, reducing loneliness, and connecting with others from our community. The Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging is grateful for this partnership and opportunity to pilot this innovative program. Programs like this are what make Lackawanna County the ideal Age Friendly Community!”

“Social and arts prescribing programs are growing in their impact, reducing healthcare costs and improving health outcomes across more than 30 countries and dozens of cities and states in the United States,” says Chason Goldschmitz, NEPA PHIL Executive Director. “The NEPA PHIL is proud to be part of the Age Friendly Lackawanna collaborative and to partner with United Way and Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging, and we are excited to utilize the unique power of arts experiences to address the growing and critical health needs of our region, especially for older adults, through one of Pennsylvania’s first programs of this kind.”

Prospective participants for RxArts NEPA may self-refer or be referred by healthcare providers, nonprofit organizations, county agencies, and municipal partners. Following a referral, a dedicated Arts Navigator will contact prospective participants to confirm eligibility and assess interests, artistic preferences, and wellness goals. Selected participants will join a cohort of more than 25 older adults and their caregivers who share similar interests and wellness priorities. Each cohort member will participate in six arts-centered experiences over a six-month period. Lunch and transportation assistance will be provided as needed through the support of local partners.

The program is designed to support a broad range of wellness outcomes, including cognitive enrichment, confidence, empathy, creative expression, mobility, motivation, relaxation, reminiscence, resilience, socialization, happiness, and improved sleep quality. Organizers expect the initiative to measurably reduce social isolation while contributing to improved mental health and quality of life throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. While the program is currently exclusive to Lackawanna County residents age 55 and older, the NEPA PHIL seeks to expand the program throughout the region with additional cohorts in 2027 and 2028. Support for this program has been provided by the Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging; United Way of Lackawanna, Wayne & Pike; and the Scranton Area Community Foundation’s Women in Philanthropy and Community Needs initiatives.

For more information about Age Friendly Lackawanna and the RxArts NEPA program, visit https://agefriendlylackawanna.com/arts-therapy/. For more information about the NEPA PHIL and upcoming public events, please visit https://nepaphil.org/.