As the symptoms of dementia progress, your loved one may find it harder to communicate. If you have noticed that they are having trouble speaking, conveying feelings or emotions, or connecting with people or the world around them, you might consider creative therapy.

Creative therapy, such as music, art, and more, can provide a non-verbal expressive outlet for people with dementia. The calming, meditative process can reduce anxiety and improve mood and self-esteem.

It can also give your loved one a feeling of accomplishment, and stimulate their brain and even slow cognitive degeneration.

Here are some of the most effective types of art-based therapy to incorporate into memory care in Southern Arizona.

Art Therapy

Art therapy is one of the most effective methods of dementia care. It includes painting, drawing, sculpture, clay work, collage making, scrapbooking, crafting, and coloring.

These activities can be meditative and calming, and can reinforce cognitive processes and maintain dexterity and hand-eye coordination. Try to choose activities that your loved one has some background in.

Don’t try to teach them how to make a pot out of clay if they have never done it before, as that could result in confusion, frustration, and anger which may derail the therapeutic process.

If your loved one doesn’t have any background in arts or crafts, choose a simple activity like coloring. This can be soothing and can improve focus and mood.

Music Therapy

Music therapy is any therapeutic process that involves engaging with music. This can include playing instruments, listening to music, or singing.

You can hire a music therapist, who can offer professional support and create an appropriate, personalized therapeutic program for your loved one.

However, if you know that your loved one enjoyed listening to Big Band music, or that they used to play the piano, you can put their favorite songs on for them.

This can unlock memories, foster non-verbal communication, and balance mood and behavior.

Movement and Theater-Based Therapy

Movement-based therapy includes drama and theater as well as dance and other forms of movement. This type of therapy is ideal for people who still are mobile and can safely move around without risk of accident or injury.

Movement-based therapy encourages physical activity and can reduce the risk of health conditions like obesity, high blood pressure, blood clots, bed sores, and stroke.

Dramatic arts, like theater, offer a platform for communication and a way to explore emotions, practice reading and speaking skills, and improve cognitive processes.

Culinary Arts

You can also use the culinary arts as part of the therapeutic process. If your loved one has always had an affinity for cooking or baking, you can find safe ways to incorporate that passion into therapy.

Cooking and baking should always be carefully supervised, and you should never leave your loved one alone with a hot oven, lit burners, hot pots or dishes, or sharp knives.

Choose simple, familiar recipes to follow that don’t require a lot of steps or ingredients. Allow your loved one to take the lead whenever possible so that they have a sense of independence and ownership over the task.

Keep in mind that it isn’t important that the job is done perfectly or efficiently. The goal is to give your loved one a way to use skills from their life to make connections, communicate, retain cognitive abilities, and restore confidence.

Benefits of Art Therapy for People With Dementia

If you aren’t sure whether art therapy is the right choice for your loved one, it may help if you explore the benefits:

Improved Cognition and Memory – Engaging in art-based therapy can stimulate areas of the brain that are related to creativity, problem-solving, and hand-eye coordination.
This can slow cognitive deterioration and improve thought and behavior processes. Certain activities, sounds, movements, images, and colors can also unlock memories and encourage communication or interaction.
Enhanced, Balanced Mood – Creating art can reduce anxiety and stress. The activity offers a meditative, calming process that allows people to express emotions, use non-verbal communication, and explore forgotten hobbies.
All of this can improve mood and reduce behavioral challenges like frustration, aggression, boredom, and anger.
Greater Social Connections and Non-verbal Communication – Art therapy can foster social connections. When your loved one works with you, a caregiver, or a group of peers, they can enjoy community and interaction without the pressure of conversation.
Using art can also be a way to foster non-verbal communication. If your loved one has trouble reading, understanding speech, or speaking, drawing or painting can give them a way to communicate their thoughts and feelings.
Improved Confidence and Self-esteem – Your loved one may gain a sense of accomplishment after finishing an art piece, creative project, or other activity.
This can help them develop confidence and self-esteem and regain some sense of independence, which is often lost to the progression of dementia.
Better Fine Motor Skills and Dexterity – Using paintbrushes, markers, pens, pencils, clay, and other artistic media can improve fine motor skills, foster hand-eye coordination, and maintain dexterity.

Facilitates Gentle Physical Activity – Creating art, playing music, reading or acting in plays, and dancing can foster gentle physical activity. This can reduce the risk of chronic pain, illness, or disease.

Tips for Incorporating Creative Therapy

Before suggesting that your loved one’s caregiver begin incorporating creative therapy into their Alzheimer’s care or memory care program, there are a few things to consider. Here are some tips:

Choose simple, age-appropriate activities that use easy-to-manipulate materials like thick colored pencils or pastels, large markers, or acrylic paint.
Avoid complicated tasks that have multiple steps, require careful adherence to details, or utilize a variety of complex tools.
Reduce distractions and prevent sensory overload by turning off the TV or radio and maintaining a calm environment.
Incorporate personalized details into the therapeutic process; for instance, put together a photo album or scrapbook, create handmade frames for family photos, or use your loved one’s recipe book to establish a connection to their life.
Provide a simplified range of options or materials so that your loved one has some sense of control over the process, but don’t offer so many options that the task becomes overwhelming or confusing.
Focus on the activity itself and the process used rather than the final product.

Call Placita In Home Care to Learn More About Alzheimer’s Care or Dementia Care

You don’t have to shoulder all of the responsibility of providing family caregiving to a loved one with dementia. Placita In Home Care offers personalized in-home caregiving services as well as specialized care like Alzheimer’s care and memory care.

We understand how challenging a diagnosis of dementia can be, both to your loved one and your entire family. Our goals are to ease stress while ensuring your loved one receives the care they need to stay safe, comfortable, and healthy and retain their dignity.

Our memory care services include personalized in-home care, art and music therapy, assistance with the activities of daily living, and transportation to community activities designed for seniors with dementia.

To schedule a consultation for dementia care in the Tucson or Phoenix metro area, call us today or fill out our contact form online.