Enhancing Dementia Care: Art Therapy for Dementia
IN THIS POST YOU’LL Read about:
Dementia and Art Therapy
Dementia is a general term used for changes in a person’s brain that affects memory and thinking. Those symptoms make daily life difficult for people who are living with it, as well as their Care Partners. It is important to know it is not a specific disease. Over 100 diseases, like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Fronto Temporal Dementia or Lewy Body, have dementia as a symptom. These symptoms can look and feel different in different diseases and different individuals.
Caring for someone with a dementia-related disease is challenging and at times very stressful. Art therapy is a helpful way to support people with dementia by allowing them to express themselves creatively. It may improve their mood and help them feel more whole. In an art therapy for dementia session, a person becomes a person again and not their disease.
Understanding Art Therapy
Art therapy is a type of therapy where people use a variety of art techniques and supplies, to express their feelings and thoughts. For someone having trouble with their language, it may help them communicate when words are hard to find. For those who are repetitive, it allows them to be in the moment and feel comforted by the supply. Clients have a safe and supportive space where they can explore their creativity and feel understood.
As a Dementia Art Therapist in Boston, I initiate the artmaking sessions, choosing supplies that match the person's abilities, preferences and needs. After that initiation, the person with dementia becomes the guide and the art supply follows their lead. As the therapist, I’m there as a third hand when they need me. It’s a delicate dance of supporting and stepping back to let the magic happen across the paper.
Art Therapy for Dementia Benefits
Art therapy can help your Loved One with dementia by stimulating their senses and keeping their mind active. Through creative activities, they may recall past experiences and find that their cognitive function, as it relates to creating art, increases. How I see that in sessions: A person’s drawing and/or painting skills become better than they were when we started. They may still struggle with the step-by-step, but the outcome surprises both them and their families.
Art therapy may also support emotional well-being by reducing feelings of anxiety, depression, and agitation. It can provide a calming environment where a person can express their emotions in a safe way. Depending on the person, that processing may be verbally and artistically or just artistically. As my clients are creating art, there is always some level of processing going on, whether it’s verbalized or not.
Additionally, art therapy encourages social interaction by bringing people together to share their creations. That sharing can be in a group session or at home with family and visitors that come to the home between sessions. Friends and family start to see this person as someone with capabilities and not as someone who may or may not feel like a burden. This social interaction helps us connect with others and feel less isolated.
What to Expect in an Art Therapy for dementia Session
In art therapy sessions, your Loved One might engage in activities like painting, drawing, sculpting, or making collages. These activities are chosen based on their interests and current skill level. Sessions usually last about an hour and might happen once or twice a week, depending on their needs.
During a session, the art therapist guides them through the art process, offering gentle support and encouragement. Family members can also get involved by participating in the activities or simply being there to offer comfort. Joining in can be a great way to bond and share in the creative experience. Click here to read about our new family service Companion Art Therapy.
Even if you don't consider yourself artistic, just being present can make a positive difference. It's a chance to connect with your loved one in a meaningful and supportive way.
My grandmother recently helped me out by participating in an art therapy session, as if she was a client, so I could take photos for you to see what a session could look like. I never knew her as someone who would pick up a paint brush and do this, but it was the purpose that got her started and now I have a beautiful memory and photographs of the experience. I share this story because Grandma is not someone I would have considered as an ideal client, but she got so much out of the session, again showing me Art Therapy is good for each and everyone of us!
Success Stories + Evidence of Impact:
How to Access Art Therapy for Dementia
My experience and support to you
Art Therapy for someone with dementia can sometimes be hard to find. As a Dementia Art Therapist, I hate that. I became an Art Therapist for dementia only after an internship in a Boston assisted living. I loved the experience so much that I knew this was the population I wanted to continue working with.
I did not have a specific class on geriatrics while in graduate school. Most of my dementia related skills were from working in assisted living. I went back to school a few years after graduating to take a specific course on art therapy and older adults.
Geriatrics is a population that, at the time I was in school, was overlooked in many educational settings. I don’t think it's an issue of not teaching because universities don’t want to. I think it’s an issue of there aren’t a lot of people working in geriatrics and therefore there aren’t a lot of people comfortable teaching about it or having had experience.
For this reason, I talk about seniors A LOT in my course I teach at Lesley University!
Here’s some more good news: communities are starting to see the light and adding Expressive Therapists to their teams. Formerly, they were in Activity Director roles and only able to offer their genius sporadically. Now we are hired specifically for our specialty and get to do it all day!
Here are some places you might find Art Therapy for Seniors in Boston -
Assisted Livings and Senior Housing:
Goddard House in Brookline
2Life Communities, Various Locations
Counseling Services:
Riverside Community Care, North of Boston
In your home:
Art Therapists at Home, North of Boston
Artvocacy, Boston
If you are an Art Therapist working in senior care, reach out! I’d love to add you to the list.
You can also read about some music and dance therapists that specialize in dementia here
If you’re looking for a generalized art therapist, you can find one here. Type in your location and a listing should populate. **Please note that it might be easier to type your state. Cities will only show that one city and not the surrounding communities.
Addressing Concerns and Limitations:
While art therapy is generally safe, it’s important to be aware of any potential challenges, such as frustration or confusion if a step or supply feels too difficult. This is information and your art therapist is equipped to adapt a supply to match a person’s capabilities and comfort level. I tailor sessions to my client’s needs, ensuring they feel supported and successful. Each session looks and feels different, based on how that person is doing that day and in the moment.
For some clients, comfort is doing the same activity each week, with slight variations. Some people might benefit from changing up that activity every few months, while others may stay with that specific activity each week. Therapy sessions are person-specific, the way any therapy should be.
Conclusion:
Art therapy can greatly enhance the well-being of a person experiencing dementia by stimulating their minds, improving their mood, and helping them connect with others. It offers a creative outlet that allows them to express themselves when words are hard to find. Exploring art therapy as part of your Loved One’s care plan can provide meaningful benefits and enrich their daily life. Consider giving it a try to see how it might positively impact your loved one.
Try Art Therapy for Dementia
I’m excited to announce a new offering from Art Therapists at Home! It has come out of the desire to help dementia caregivers learn the tools and skills to create art at home with their person with dementia. It is also giving you the ability to travel to us!
Companion Art Therapy
is an opportunity for families, friends and/or hired caregivers to be a part of the art therapy process. Sessions are as much about giving caregivers skills, as they are about feeling you have a creative outlet for your own stresses. These sessions occur in our space in Arlington, MA. You can travel to us if we can’t travel to you!
Want to learn more, click here.
Let’s Stay in Touch!
LOOKING TO ADVANCE YOUR SKILLS?
We offer Art Therapy and LMHC supervision in Massachusetts.
Fill out a form here if you’re interested in seeking supervision support.
LOOKING FOR ART THERAPY FOR YOUR PERSON WITH DEMENTIA?
We come to your home, for your person with dementia! We serve clients in Cambridge, Somerville, Medford, Malden, Melrose, Winchester, Arlington, Belmont, Watertown, Waltham, Chestnut Hill, the Boston Back Bay and Beacon Hill!
Fill out a contact form and we will be in touch.
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