Ask Mom if she remembers taking an art class or doing crafts in school? Whether it was painting watercolors or gluing dry noodles to a popsicle stick frame, she probably thought it was just for fun. It was, but it turns out that creating art also offers many health benefits.
As some seniors age, they can develop chronic illnesses that negatively affect every aspect of their life. However, the American Art Therapy Association has found that using art as a form of therapy helps improve aging seniors’ cognitive abilities, mental health, and sensory-motor functions.
Let’s look a little deeper into the benefits of art therapy, and you can decide if it would be beneficial for your senior parent.
Art Therapy Can Help With Senior Depression
Aging seniors who struggle with mobility or the health implications of other chronic illnesses often experience depression. Creating art reduces symptoms of depression by providing cognitive and mood stimulation. In addition, it allows aging seniors to interact socially, which also helps decrease feelings of loneliness.
Art Therapy Improves Brain Function
Art therapy is another way to boost a senior’s cognitive functions. Their ability to focus on a task for a sustained period of time is improved, as well as their use of logic and reasoning to solve problems. In addition, it improves their working memory, and they complete multi-step tasks without repeatedly asking for directions.
Art therapy Provides a Sense of Well-Being
The average person has 60,000 thoughts per day. Being immersed in a creative activity like art therapy reduces an aging senior’s stress or anxiety and provides a general sense of well-being.
Art Therapy Provides Purpose
It gives aging seniors something to look forward to. If they’ve lost their purpose, it can bring that back into their lives. In addition, the autonomy of deciding what art they’ll create, the colors they’ll use, the type of brush, etc., can also give them a fulfilling sense of control.
“Create Good Moments, Days, and Hours With Art Therapy”
The Alzheimer’s Association says this is the goal of art therapy. For dementia patients, art therapy can spark seniors to smile, laugh, and move. Some express the feeling that they feel “alive again.”
There’s no “one size fits all” approach to art therapy. Art therapy is built on personal passions and memories. You’ll need to consider your parent’s preferences, current abilities, and what’s feasible in their living space. You want them to enjoy success and enjoyment through art therapy and not have feelings like frustration and inadequacy.
Seniors Prefer Homecare Helps Seniors to Stay Active
Our compassionate caregivers provide mental stimulation through conversation and other companionship activities. Our full-time licensed social worker, who is a member of our staff, will invest the time in getting to know you and your loved one and create a customized Care Plan that will work best for your family. Contact us today to schedule your Free Initial Assessment for your Care Plan to be designed.