The Benefits of Art-Making for Individuals Living With Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia
Art Therapy is gaining much-deserved attention for benefiting individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and various forms of dementia. Studies show that participating in art therapy benefits these groups because, while these conditions can impair verbal communication; the colours, lines, and shapes present in art can provide a vehicle for people to express themselves. When the ability to verbally express oneself declines, it can become frustrating to communicate, leading to agitation and psychological conditions like depression and anxiety. For anyone living with or caring for someone with these symptoms, this can be an upsetting and worrying experience. By creating non-verbal modes of expression, art-making can be a powerful and comforting way for people to communicate, create connections with others, learn new skills, and improve their quality of life.
At a neurological level - art creation stimulates the temporal and parietal lobes in the brain which are directly related to how we recognize objects and control our fine motor functions. Activating the interactions between our hands and brains, helps maintain coordination and motor skills. The physical manipulation and dexterity used in creating art can translate to maintaining everyday life skills like brushing your hair, using a fork during dinner, or putting on a sweater.
In Art Therapy and Clinical Neuroscience’s chapter on “Alzheimer’s Disease: Art, Creativity, and the Brain”, the authors explain that the therapeutic stimulation of art therapy can help ease the effects of Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. According to the authors, art therapy can provide an effective antidote to isolation through the creation and sharing of artwork while helping individuals situate themselves in the here and now.
Having worked closely with people living with dementia and Alzheimer’s both in long term care and in the community, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing firsthand how creating art in a supportive, therapeutic environment (more on this in a future post!) can alleviate symptoms of conditions like Alzherimer’s and dementia. Some of the folks that I’ve worked with were initially apprehensive about creating art, not having made art since they were very young. However, many discovered that the physical and sensory process of rolling clay, moving paint with a brush, or arranging pieces of fabric can be very soothing and familiar; reminiscent of activities they’ve previously enjoyed but now find difficult to do. Someone who has enjoyed baking may find the process of rolling out clay using a rolling pin akin to rolling out a pie crust. Someone who has spent a lot of time in a woodshop may find the process of sanding and painting wooden shapes comforting. Someone who used to do a lot of sewing may enjoy selecting fabrics to arrange as a collage. For some, these art making processes can prompt memories from the past and for others, the sensory act of feeling and molding different materials can be relaxing, grounding, and help to reduce agitation or confusion.
Having the opportunity to connect with others (an art therapist or others in a group session) is a significant part of what makes art therapy for folks living with these conditions so impactful. Creating a sense of community and connection in a supportive environment where people can express both positive and negative emotions is key to alleviating feelings of isolation and loneliness; all too common issues for folks living with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.
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