The Power Of Art For Alzheimer’s and So Much More!
"On Oct 31st, 2021, my mom and I went to PP (Pinot’s Palette) for the fall board painting. Mom at 79 , in the early stage of Alzheimer's, wanted to give painting a chance. We had such a wonderful time. Mom was overwhelmed with pride on her board!"— Jennifer Roberts, Pinot's Palette guest/artist
Jennifer sent us an email with the photos, seen above, telling us about her incredible mother who at the age of 79, in the early stage of Alzheimers, wanted to give painting a chance.
She told us what a wonderful time they had, and you can see from Mom’s face at the beginning of class with her blank board and an unsure look on her face… and the end result, we can see why!
She, like so many of us, began something new and exciting, thinking ‘Can I do this?’ and like all of our guests, left with a handmade work of art that they can be proud of!
Jennifer also informed us that, unfortunately, their artwork was misplaced so to get over the “loss”, Jennifer and her Mom’s nurse, Nisha, came back to Pinot’s Palette to recreate them! Though she is still sad that they lost her last big art project, she will always have the memories they made that day.
Widely practiced in mental and physical health facilities, Art Therapy helps so many people suffering from a number of issues worldwide.
Art therapy is practiced in mental health, rehabilitation, medical, educational, forensic, wellness, private practice and community settings with diverse client populations in individual, couples, family, and group therapy formats. Art therapy is an effective treatment for people experiencing developmental, medical, educational, and social or psychological impairment. Individuals who benefit from art therapy include those who have survived trauma resulting from combat, abuse, and natural disaster; persons with adverse physical health conditions such as cancer, traumatic brain injury, and other health disability; and persons with autism, dementia, depression, and other disorders. Art therapy helps people resolve conflicts, improve interpersonal skills, manage problematic behaviors, reduce negative stress, and achieve personal insight. Art therapy also provides an opportunity to enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of art-making.
ART THERAPY
Art therapy is a tool therapists use to help patients interpret, express, and resolve their emotions and thoughts. Patients work with an art therapist to explore their emotions, understand conflicts or feelings that are causing them distress, and use art to help them find resolutions to those issues.
Art therapy as a discipline began in the 1940s and became more widespread in the 1970s. Like other expressive arts therapy, such as dance therapy or music therapy, it draws on creativity.
ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. In most people with the disease — those with the late-onset type symptoms first appear in their mid-60s. Early-onset Alzheimer’s occurs between a person’s 30s and mid-60s and is very rare. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia among older adults.
DID YOU KNOW???
---> Painting Strengthens Memory.
Those that frequently use creative outlets such as writing, painting, and drawing, have less chance of developing memory loss illnesses when they get older. On the other side, those with Alzheimer's and dementia have been known to greatly benefit from painting, as it provides them with a sense of accomplishment and achievement. Art therapy gives those with memory loss and other disabilities the ability to paint their thoughts, emotions, and memories. The art becomes their voice.
Here’s how to get your loved one engaged in art therapy:
** Picture the past. Encourage a project that tells a story or evokes a memory. The project can be something that you can talk about together, both while the work is in progress and after it is finished.
** Keep instructions to a minimum to avoid confusion and frustration. Then, step out of the way as the work takes shape. If necessary, get things started by painting the first few brush strokes yourself to remind your loved one how it is done. Don’t forget that the picture is done when the person says it’s done, whether you think so or not.
** Don’t be a critic. If you don’t care for the colors chosen, keep it to yourself! Positive feedback and questions that encourage interaction are the best contributions you can make.
Art has been used for centuries to help people express what they cannot put into words. And across the country, art is increasingly being used to help people with Alzheimer’s disease. The process of making art, and appreciating art, not only may be helpful to anyone with Alzheimer’s disease but to those who care for them as well.
Although studies on art’s effects on the brain are limited, research has shown that artistic engagement can help to ease common behavioral symptoms of dementia like anxiety, agitation, and depression. It may also boost mood and self-esteem, and possibly help stimulate memory. By having a beneficial effect on those with Alzheimer’s, caregivers may find relief as well.
One way that art has been used in a healthcare setting is with art therapy, in which artists, facilitators, and mental health professionals use art materials to help people express their feelings through painting, sculpture, and other media. There are an estimated 5,500 art therapists nationwide, some of whom specialize in working with people with Alzheimer’s disease. Art therapy typically takes place in small groups at community and senior centers, nursing homes, and other care settings.
MORE INTERESTING INFORMATION:
*** Two small studies found that an art therapy program called Memories in the Making, in which art facilitators offer weekly art-making sessions to people with early to moderate dementia, seemed to provide benefits. More than 80 percent of the participants in one study could stay focused during the 30 to 45-minute sessions, with most smiling, laughing, and otherwise appearing to enjoy themselves. In a follow-up study of the program involving an hour of art therapy for five weeks, participants showed signs of improved self-esteem compared to a control group that discussed current events or did crafts.
*** Art therapy may produce additional benefits for those with Alzheimer’s as well. In a trial involving 39 people with mild Alzheimer’s in Japan, those who participated in art therapy showed less apathy compared to a control group that did simple math exercises. In another study of 45 people in Britain with mild to moderate dementia, those who engaged in art-making once a week for 40 weeks showed improvements in physical abilities, became more social, and were calmer compared to a group that did recreational activities.
*** Art might be a good choice for someone with Alzheimer’s disease for a variety of reasons. For one thing, the ability to make art, and certainly the ability to look at art, is relatively preserved in those with Alzheimer’s disease. Deficits like impaired memory, learning, and language are typically not impediments to making art, especially in the early to moderate stages of the illness. The artist Willem de Kooning, for one, continued to paint after his diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, with his painting style becoming looser and more lyrical and his colors bright and primary. Some critics consider this late-life work among his best.
*** Art is also an expression of feelings and emotions, and nonverbal skills are typically less affected in the course of Alzheimer’s disease than verbal skills. Patients with Alzheimer’s have rich internal emotional lives that might find expression in the art making progress. Most patients express a wide range of facial emotions even late in the course of the disease. Through the use of line, form and color, art may provide a way for those with the condition to express their inner emotions and feelings.
*** Finally, making art typically produces a sense of “flow,” or the ability to become immersed in the art-making process. The process can lead to an overall sense of purpose and well-being. As one participant with Alzheimer’s in the Memory in the Making program put it, “In here, I feel like a person again.”