• Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • CARE INFORMATION
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • HOPE ON THE HORIZON
  • BLOG
  • 0Shopping Cart
Best Alzheimer's Products
  • SHOP
  • Activities
    • Games
    • Puzzles
    • Toys& Manipulatives
    • Entertainment
  • Alternative Therapy
    • Aromatherapy
    • Art Therapy
      • Creating Art
      • Enjoying Art
    • Doll Therapy
    • Flashing Light Therapy
    • Bright Light Therapy
    • Music Therapy
    • Reminiscence Therapy
    • Sensory Stimulation
  • Alzheimer’s Disease
    • The Stages of Alzheimer’s
      • Three Stages
      • Seven Stages
    • Alzheimer’s Symptoms
    • The Alzheimer’s Brain
    • Can We Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease?
    • Mild Cognitive Impairment
    • Alzheimer’s FAQ
  • For Caregivers
    • Caregiver Resources
    • Share Your Story
    • Food For Alzheimer’s
  • Blog
  • Gifts
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
  • CREATING ART

    IS HIGHLY THERAPEUTIC

    Art therapy - creating art as dementia therapy
  • ENJOYING ART

    ELEVATES MOOD AND SELF ESTEEM

    Art Therapy for Alzheimer's and Dementia
PreviousNext
12

ART THERAPY FOR ALZHEIMER’S WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED BY JOHN SCHMID ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2011

Art Therapy for Alzheimer’s

Enjoy Art or Create Art – It’s All Good

Why art therapy for Alzheimer’s? “A wealth of research has demonstrated that participation in creative activities promotes health and well being by stimulating curiosity and self-evaluation, by encouraging individuals to express themselves in meaningful ways, and by affirming their dignity and self-worth.” So sure are the authors of this statement that they created The Society for the Arts in Dementia Care, which “aims to disseminate knowledge and establish ties with dementia care organisations worldwide, thereby improving the quality of life for people with dementia.”

Painting, sculpting, photographing, and otherwise creating art is not the only benefit of art. We know now that enjoying art—appreciating and discussing art with others—is also therapeutic for people who have dementia. Indeed, it is therapeutic for us all!

SHOP ART SUPPLIES

Everything You Need For Your Art Program

There is indeed a wealth of research, as well as anecdotal support for the confidence that the Society for the Arts has in the positive affects creative activity has for the person with dementia. An excerpt from the documentary film, I Remember Better When I Paint (below) demonstrates this affect; to see otherwise despondent people come to life, become active and social and verbal, is nothing short of amazing. Please take the time to view this three minute clip, or come back to it when you have time. It will convince you that an art program will benefit the individual with Alzheimer’s disease, possibly in a very big way.

I Remember Better When I Paint: The Benefits of Art Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease

Why This Film?

No drugs yet exist that can effectively prevent or cure Alzheimer’s disease. What recourse, then, for the millions of people who suffer from this terrible degenerative disease, which causes a progressive decline of cognitive skills, memory loss, and withdrawal?
It is becoming increasingly evident – initiatives that help people with Alzheimer’s get involved in art and other creative activity obtain surprising results. Scientists have discovered that Alzheimer’s disease normally spares, to a very large extent, the parts of the brain related to emotions, creativity and creative expression. Neurologists — including several who are interviewed in the documentary — recognize the benefits of non-pharmacological therapies. Nonetheless, only a very small percentage of nursing homes and care facilities are yet making effective use of these approaches, and the film urges that an extensive effort now be made to share these positive approaches and hopeful possibilities.

~ From I Remember Better When I Paint

There are still a few copies of this groundbreaking film available at our store. Order yours today.

ORDER THIS FILM

Art Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s affects the brain in a predictable way. It destroys different areas of the brain progressively and in a predictable order. Everyone is aware that Alzheimer’s affects memory, and short term memory is one of the first things to fail. Eventually the disease will upset the working of every part of a person’s brain. This includes perception and the ability to understand, plan, and predict. One’s emotions and creativity seem to remain viable until much later in the diseases progression. (Read more» about the process and progression of Alzheimer’s disease.)[pullquote]It is becoming increasingly evident – initiatives that help people with Alzheimer’s get involved in art and other creative activity obtain surprising results.
[/pullquote]

When working with people who have dementia, it is far more productive to communicate using emotional and creative centers rather than logic and memory centers. This is why art therapy for Alzheimer’s is such an effective means of improving quality of life.

Now we must make an important distinction. Painting a picture is not necessarily art therapy, in the strictest sense, regardless of the benefit derived from the process. The American Art Therapy Association claims that “art therapy can only be practiced by an individual who possesses the required training, certification, and/or state licensure. Bona fide art therapy is beyond the scope of practice of non-art therapists.” Art therapists are highly trained, knowledgeable practitioners. To be recognized by the Association, a therapist requires a master’s degree and hundreds of hours of supervised practicum.

Art therapists are master-level clinicians who work with people of all ages across a broad spectrum of practice. Guided by ethical standards and scope of practice, their education and supervised training prepares them for culturally proficient work with diverse populations in a variety of settings. Honoring individuals’ values and beliefs, art therapists work with people who are challenged with medical and mental health problems, as well as individuals seeking emotional, creative, and spiritual growth.

Art Therapy for Alzheimer's | Memories in the Making - A manual for creating an art therapy program for people with dementia including Alzheimer's disease

Memories in the Making: A Creative Art Activity for People With Alzheimer’s Dementia

We recommend that you participate in art programs conducted by certified therapists. Whenever you can. If you are a part of a memory care community with an art program, do what you can to get a therapist working with you. (If you are a part of a memory care community without an art program, get one started. Really.)

It is likely beyond your budget to have a weekly session with an art therapist, but one could help you set up and supervise your program. If even this isn’t possible, or practical, Memories in the Making (MIM) can help. Based on a program developed by the Alzheimer’s Association of Orange County, this book was written to help harness the amazing healing properties of art. If you are caring for a loved one at home, MIM can help you understand and implement a small scale but effective program. Even then, and if you can, watch for art therapy sessions in your community (library, etc.) .

 Art Therapy for Alzheimer’s: Two Ways

We can create our own art or music or stories, or we can enjoy those things that others have created. Both activities can provide an enjoyable diversion for any of us, and both are therapeutic for the person with Alzheimer’s disease.

Strictly speaking, art therapy involves the creation of art, as seen in these various definitions:

    • National Institutes of Health: Art therapy is a mental health profession that uses the creative process of art making to improve and enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages.
    • Art Therapy Credentials Board: Art therapy is a human service profession in which clients, facilitated by the art therapist, use art media, the creative process, and the resulting artwork to explore their feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behavior, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety, and increase self-esteem.
    • American Medical Association and Health Professions Network: Art therapists use drawing, painting, and other art processes to assess and treat clients with emotional, cognitive, physical, and/or developmental needs and disorders.
    • American Art Therapy Association: Art therapy is the therapeutic use of art making, within a professional relationship, by people who experience illness, trauma, or challenges in living, and by people who seek personal development. Through creating art and reflecting on the art products and processes, people can increase awareness of self and others, cope with symptoms, stress, and traumatic experiences; enhance cognitive abilities; and enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of making art.

Creating Art as Therapy for Alzheimer’s

Painting and drawing, even sculpting, are common hobbies. All are excellent ways to relax, but creating art is more than just a recreational pastime. Art provides a way to reach inside ourselves, to put on paper or some other medium, a representation of thoughts and

Art Therapy for Alzheimer's | Lemon Yellow Flower Floating in a Pond - a painting of a yellow lily on a green background

Lemon Yellow Flower Floating in a Pond A painting done by a participant in a Memories in the Making program.

feelings that we may not be able to express in any other way. Sometimes words fail us.

Language is affected fairly early in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. If you provide care for a person who has Alzheimer’s you have probably, at one time or another, seen him (or her) struggle to find the words to say what he wants to say. The idea is there. He has the desire to communicate that idea to you. He just can’t get the word out. We have all at one time or another felt that the word we need to relate a thought is “on the tip of my tongue”. We just can’t get it out. Imagine this feeling magnified ten- or twenty-fold, and you will start to share the frustration of a person with Alzheimer’s.

Read more» about creating art as therapy for people with Alzheimer’s disease…

Enjoying Art as Therapy for Alzheimer’s

On one recent Friday, Karen Bedrosian Richardson, 65, attended “Mindful Connections” (at the Ruben Museum of Art in New York) with her 90-year-old mother, Isabel Bedrosian, who is in the late stages of dementia. “What I get out of it is the enjoyment of learning about a different culture,” Ms. Bedrosian Richardson said. “And the opportunity to use a vocabulary that during the day I don’t get to use.” In caring for a relative with Alzheimer’s, she said, “the conversation with that person tends to be repeating the same thing over and over.”

“She’s alert for longer periods during the day, her walking is better, her responsiveness to stimuli around her in the home is better. It’s as though she’s been energized,” Ms. Bedrosian Richardson said.

Read more» about enjoying art as therapy for people with Alzheimer’s disease >>>

For Bernice

Art Therapy for Alzheimer's | Bernice and her jack-o-lantern

Art therapy for Alzheimer’s can come in many forms. Here Bernice proudly displays her Jack-O-Lantern.

Art or creative therapy for people with Alzheimer’s disease need not look the same as art (say, an art class) might look for someone else. Bernice had always been a creative lady and also a perfectionist. At one point when Bernice was in a memory care community, Holly brought an adult coloring book for her. It had pictures of people dressed in fancy clothes. Holly got out some markers and asked her if she would like to color. It was always a challenge to get Bernice to do anything like this — she did not want to risk making a mistake. Holly moved the coloring book aside for a while, and they talked.

Before long, Holly slid the book back in front of herself, picked up a marker and started coloring. Bernice was obviously interested. Holly asked, “What color do you think this should be?. She didn’t like to make mistakes, but Bernice was never shy about offering her opinion. They finished the page in this way; Bernice chose the color for each area and Holly filled it in. Choosing the colors was Bernice’s creative process, her art therapy. Bernice couldn’t have been more pleased with the finished picture if she had done it all herself!

As with everything else when working with persons with dementia, be prepared to modify the task or activity to satisfy the individual’s interests and abilities. It helps to know as much as possible about the person you are working with, but it also requires observation and experimentation. If something is not working, or not being accepted, try using it or doing it a little differently. Or put it away and try something else. Maybe this activity is for another day.

It is important to remember that in this context we use the word “art” as a verb; art is a creative process, not a product. If a person is enjoying her art experience, if it helps her to communicate what is inside of her, if she takes pride in what she is doing, it makes no difference what it looks like when it’s done.

Watercolor Art Kit
All you need to start an art program at home.

This Watercolor Art Kit provides the basics for your Art Therapy for Alzheimer’s program
BUY ART KIT

WATERCOLOR ART KIT

Painting is a very easy activity to do at home. It requires only a few supplies, and those supplies are generally inexpensive. Remember to begin a session with a little discussion about the painting process, and pick a subject to be painted. That subject could be a memory, or it might be a model to copy. The model might be a flower, a bowl of fruit, or a painting by Raphael. (A reproduction of a painting by Raphael works well too if you don’t happen to have an original.)
The Watercolor Art Kit pictured here and available in our store, contains everything you need to start your own program; a set of 18 vibrant watercolors, 7 quality brushes with comfort grip, colored pencils, pencil sharpener, 3 water bowls, a pad of watercolor paper (10 sheets – 9″x12″). And comes in it’s own storage box. This kit makes art therapy for Alzheimer’s easy for you!

21 replies
  1. Ernestine Stofko-Dixon
    Ernestine Stofko-Dixon says:
    January 7, 2018 at 8:48 PM

    Would there be interest in my senior living coloring book which is designed for using crayons ?
    All subjects are basic and recognizeable, and on quality paper.
    I’ve been teaching and painting over 25 years and these drawings have been used successfully…..
    Also finishing another book for coloring and mind boosting for Early onset of Alzheimer’s, as my mother in law has been diagnosed and loves to color with me.

    Reply
  2. Mary Carter
    Mary Carter says:
    November 25, 2016 at 12:27 PM

    I’m looking for free art material seniors in the oakland ca area. We are starting a art and craft class in our senior building next month. Would appreciate all the help we can get. Thank you.

    Reply
  3. Coloring Press
    Coloring Press says:
    November 17, 2016 at 10:03 PM

    I have created a coloring book specifically for dementia patients, anyone with vision problems or hand control issues – it has larger spaces and bold lines that are easy to see and easier to stay inside. Simple Kaleidoscopes: Easy to Color Designs – An Adult Coloring Book With Bold Lines and Larger Spaces
    For anyone with attention problems, I also published the book in half size so the pages could be finished in a shorter span. Pocket Kaleidoscopes: A Travel Size Mini Adult Coloring Book
    Both books are available on Amazon

    Reply
    • Marilyn Rabinowitz
      Marilyn Rabinowitz says:
      July 16, 2019 at 1:46 AM

      I am an Art Therapist and have a client who has Alzheimers but has also had a stroke leaving his left hand a bit useless. His spatial abilities have vanished and we do ‘abstract art’. Do you think your book would be suitable for him? If so, how do I get one?

      Reply
  4. Tracey
    Tracey says:
    September 28, 2016 at 8:09 PM

    I work in an aged care facility in hervey bay qld australia and would like to introduce art therapy to our dementia residents. I am currently putting forward a proposal for art workshops for all our residents but would also like ideas on how to implement art workshops directed at people with dementia. Any advice would be welcome.

    Reply
    • John Schmid
      John Schmid says:
      May 9, 2018 at 4:07 PM

      Hi Tracey – the best resource we know for setting up a meaningful art program, other than spending a few years getting certified as an art therapist, is the book, Memories in the Making. We sell it at https://store.best-alzheimers-products.com/memories-in-the-making.html, but you might find a seller for it in AU.

      Reply
  5. Mindy Dalgarn
    Mindy Dalgarn says:
    July 3, 2016 at 3:07 PM

    Hi Mary,
    Our beloved father was diagnosed with Lewy Body Disease in 2001. He passed away on January 23, 2016 at the age of 91. In our quest to find an activity that provided dad with enjoyment and a sense of satisfaction we discovered Portrait Puzzles. Family photos are uploaded and magically transformed into high quality puzzles. My sister and I created Pieces of the Past Puzzles and are partnering with Portrait Puzzles to spread the word about the power of puzzles. Please check our website at http://www.piecesofthepastuzzles.com. They were a godsend for our family and are now treasured more than ever, Good luck.

    Reply
  6. Holly Schmid
    Holly Schmid says:
    April 6, 2016 at 1:14 PM

    Dear Mary, My mother lives in Clearwater, so I am very familiar with your area. I would contact the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. They would likely be able to direct you to available programs and support groups. It sounds like your husband enjoys music, so in the meantime, take advantage of the many concerts in your area. Coachman Park has free concerts sometimes. If you get the Thursday copy of the Tampa Bay Times, they have more things listed than you could ever do. Have some fun.
    Best Regards,
    Holly

    Reply
  7. John Schmid
    John Schmid says:
    March 15, 2016 at 5:40 PM

    I don’t know of anything, Jeanette, but I’ll put it out there. Maybe sombody else can help. Good Luck! and enjoy your retirement.

    Reply
  8. Jeanette Tarushka
    Jeanette Tarushka says:
    March 15, 2016 at 4:32 PM

    I’m a Special Education Teacher and about to retire. I’m want to work with Dementia Patients with art activities. Can you email me where to find a job in this field and in the Bay Area or in Contra Costa County area? Thanks. jtarushka@husd.k12.ca.us

    Reply
  9. Kylee
    Kylee says:
    December 29, 2015 at 10:40 AM

    This is awesome!

    Reply
  10. michael sedgley
    michael sedgley says:
    October 16, 2015 at 3:57 AM

    As an artist with an interest in care work in the home, i see the benefits of painting that can be clearly seen in many cases of people with early and middle term Alzheimers. Are the side effects of the medication ( extreme fatigue for example ) that Alzheimers patients have, likely to suppress any benefits that recreational painting or stimulating brain games could give to enhance their lives.
    If so should the Doctors modify those medications so that the Alzheimer sufferer benefits more from activities like painting.

    Reply
  11. Lani Whitley
    Lani Whitley says:
    October 4, 2015 at 2:36 PM

    Hi,
    My husband Kevin was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimers almost 2 years ago, and he is now almost 63. I am an art teacher, and trying to stay at the two schools I work for as long as possible, but recently I have considered if I could do art therapy as a job, and therefore be able to spend more time with Kevin and maybe have him working with me as an assistant. is there a program I can look into to learn more about the best ways to work with clients who have Dementia/and or Alzheimers?

    thanks,
    Lani

    Reply
  12. Lani Whitley
    Lani Whitley says:
    October 4, 2015 at 2:36 PM

    Hi,
    My husband Kevin was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimers almost 2 years ago, and he is now almost 63. I am an art teacher, and trying to stay at the two schools I work for as long as possible, but recently I have considered if I could do art therapy as a job, and therefore be able to spend more time with Kevin and maybe have him working with me as an assistant. is there a program I can look into to learn more about the best ways to work with clients who have Dementia/and or Alzheimers?

    thanks,
    Lani

    Reply
    • John Schmid
      John Schmid says:
      May 9, 2018 at 4:11 PM

      The best place to learn your options is the American Art Therapy Association at https://arttherapy.org.

      Reply
      • John Schmid
        John Schmid says:
        July 16, 2019 at 1:42 PM

        Hi Marilyn,

        I am going to assume that you are referring to the book Memories in the Making, by Deloris Heinly. The book is an excellent guide to setting up an art program. It could be a guide whatever the client group, but it is written specifically for people with dementia. The book is not a replacement for a certified Art Therapist, or for a certified art therapy program, but certainly can take the place of certification if that is not available. As you know, art therapy is not about creating great art but of having an alternative way to communicate, and benefitting emotionally and psychologically from the process. Ms. Heinly’s book is not just a guide to selecting art materials. She defines and describes the skills one will need to work with this special group, and approaches to maximizing the therapeutic effect.

        The book is available in our store at https://store.best-alzheimers-products.com/memories-in-the-making.html. To the best of my knowledge it is not available for sale in Australia, and shipping from here to there can be expensive. You can put one in a cart, go to checkout, and the store will give you shipping options with their costs.

        Keep up your good work.

        Reply

Trackbacks & Pingbacks

  1. Getting Creative! - English Rose Suites says:
    October 2, 2017 at 1:43 PM

    […] to best-alzheimers-products.com, “Art provides a way to reach inside ourselves, to put on paper or some other medium, a […]

    Reply
  2. Art Therapy Dementia Care | Care for Dementia patents says:
    June 5, 2016 at 12:28 AM

    […] Art Therapy for Alzheimer’s and Dementia – Art Therapy for Alzheimer’s is getting a lot of deserved attention as a non-medical intervention for people with almost any form of dementia, […]

    Reply
  3. Can We Remember Lost Memories - Best Alzheimer's Products says:
    May 20, 2016 at 12:16 PM

    […] for a time. A doll revives nurturing tendencies and promotes socialization and communication. Art therapy stimulates creativity and areas in the brain that are less affected by the damage of dementia. […]

    Reply
  4. Sensory Stimulation for Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia says:
    October 16, 2014 at 4:11 PM

    […] Art Therapy for Alzheimer’s […]

    Reply
  5. Sensory Stimulation for Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia says:
    October 16, 2014 at 4:11 PM

    […] Art Therapy for Alzheimer’s […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Aromatherapy for Alzheimer’s
  • Art Therapy for Alzheimer’s
    • Creating Art as Therapy for Alzheimer’s
    • Enjoying Art as Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Doll Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease: Pros and Cons
  • Flashing Light Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Light Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Music Therapy for Alzheimers
  • Reminiscence Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Sensory Stimulation for Alzheimer’s
    • Visual Stimulation for Alzheimer’s and Dementia

signup for our Newsletter

Subscribe

* indicates required
Interest
Email Format
THE POWER OF ART THERAPY

THE BENEFITS OF MUSIC

Tools for Music Therapy
A trained music therapist will create a context in which all the benefits of music therapy are possible, but knowing a little about why music is such a potent tool can help you create a therapeutic environment that includes music.

THE MIRACLE OF DOLL THERAPY

Doll therapy for Alzheimer's disease and dementia Doll therapy has been called a self-administering therapy. If a person accepts a doll, she or even he will benefit from nurturing the "baby", and this can be true whether the person thinks that the doll is a real baby, or knows that it is only a doll.

AROMATHERAPY

Aromatherapy for Alzheimer's In Shakespeare's Hamlet, Ophelia says, “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance." Recent studies show that rosemary, more specifically the essential oil of rosemary, has the power to improve memory. Other essential oils including lavender, lemon balm, and bergamot are also getting attention for the benefit that they provide to people who have dementia.

Sensory Stimulation is Brain Stimulation

Tools for Sensory Stimulation
We gather sensory information about our world with our noses as well as through our eyes and our ears. We taste with special nerve endings on our tongues, and other nerves allow us to feel with almost every part of our bodies. But it is the brain that processes those sensations. Sensory stimulation is brain stimulation.

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

Facebook
  • Better Dementia Care Without DrugsJuly 1, 2020 - 7:36 AM
  • Best Alzheimer’s Products In The MediaFebruary 18, 2021 - 8:53 AM
  • Caring For CaregiversFebruary 17, 2021 - 1:42 PM
  • The holidays from the point of view of a person with Alzheimer’sOctober 29, 2020 - 4:51 PM
  • How Stage Affects Your Choice Of GiftOctober 27, 2020 - 5:13 PM
  • What Not To Gift A Person With Alzheimer’sOctober 27, 2020 - 11:54 AM
  • Sharing Holidays If You Can’t Be ThereOctober 27, 2020 - 11:43 AM

Best Alzheimer’s Products

Billing:
    301 Wood Creek Rd
    Unit 111
    Wheeling, IL 60030

Shipping:
    1414 N Rand Rd
    Unit 3253
    Arlington Heights, IL 60004

About Us
Contact Us
Privacy & Cookie Policy

Organizations & Affiliations


Purple Angel Ambassador



Dementia Friendly America

Categories

  • Activities
  • Activity Professionals
  • Adult Day Services
  • Alternative Medicine
  • Alternative Therapy
  • Alzheimer's Disease
  • Best Alzheimer's Products
  • Better Dementia Care
  • Blog
  • Care Providers
  • Designers + Architects
  • Food for Alzheimer's
  • For Caregivers
  • Gifts
  • Health Professionals
  • Hope On The Horizon
  • Library Workers
  • Medical
  • Preventing Alzheimer's
  • Professionals
  • Recipes

signup for our Newsletter

Subscribe

* indicates required
Interest
Email Format

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING

  • I just received a parcel of games, books and puzzles I ordered from you online. It only took a few days to get here which is pretty amazing. I think I wait longer than that for things to be delivered within my own country! But I digress, I wanted to say thank you very much. My mother is now going through the box, I’ve not seen her so animated in a while. She’s in the later stages of Alzheimer’s/Dementia and spends a lot of her time just sitting around not doing much and I’ve found it extremely difficult to find things that are suitable to keep her occupied and engaged. So much of what she used to be able to do and enjoy is now beyond her and although she tries, it just creates frustration for her. This cache of goodies looks like it’s going to be the solution, thank you Joanna Carter
© Copyright 2018 Golden Care Products
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Legal
  • Press Info
  • Share Your Story
Scroll to top