Local author to discuss aging, retirement, art at Abbe Creek Gallery

Tim Charles, author of “Aging Life Design: A Journey Captured in Morning Pages,” is offering a presentation and discussion opportunity titled “An Intersection of the Arts and Aging Well.”

The event will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, at the Abbe Creek Gallery, 105 First St. West, Mount Vernon. Charles’ presentation is free and open to the public.

A Cedar Rapids resident, Charles has over 47 years of experience in the healthcare industry and providing senior leadership for 40 years.

He retired in 2022 as Mercy Medical Center - Cedar Rapids president and CEO. Among other activities in retirement, he has become an avid painter. Charles also authored his memoir “Aging Life Design: A Journey Captured in Morning Pages.”

Charles is the founder and president of Aging Life Design, Inc., a company dedicated to repurposing retirement, rebutting ageism, redesigning housing and communities for those aging, redressing aging into poverty, and reforming healthcare for those aging in particular with dementia.

He will give a 30 minute presentation, followed by a question and answer conversation.

“My intention is to start with a basic introduction connecting the dots with my interest in aging and neuro aesthetics. That sets the stage for the importance of the arts as we age,” Charles said.

Other Charles’ presentation topics include longevity; recent discussion at the International Alzheimers Association Research meeting; neuro aesthetics; contribution and benefits of the arts in terms of society and health; the value of arts as we approach cognitive impairment, loneliness and isolation in the aging community; his own art and journey in getting into art; and pathways of life-long learning.