Alzheimer's Care and Art Therapy
According to the Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences, "[Alzheimer's] patients recall events through artwork. The Medical Daily reports "Art allows Alzheimer’s patients to bypass language. Essentially, it helps the brain navigate a new communication path. Art, as well as music, draw from parts of the brain that language doesn’t." An article in the USA Today reported that "art therapy can awaken patients in cognitive decline. It can inspire a senior with limited speech to use a paintbrush to communicate, and it can lessen aggressive behavior....In addition, art offers a chance to connect socially, helping lower the sense of isolation that often accompanies Alzheimer’s." To sum it up, art therapy can bring back once-forgotten memories, encourage conversation and social interaction, and greatly enhance the quality of life.
Art is not just something to keep seniors busy. It is a powerful medium of communication, and it has been found to stimulate the brain. Some people have even had the language centers of their brain reactivated after starting art therapy.
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Art therapy may not give your loved on back the ability to talk, but it can stimulate the brain and start it off down a new path. Dr. Daniel Potts, the founder of Cognitive Dynamics, adds, "They can lose themselves in the moment as they create. Through the process of art therapy, relationships are built, empathy fostered, anxiety lessened, and a sense of mastery or control over their environment is developed. It’s a matter of discovering new ways to express yourself and