Did you know that art therapy can really help those who have dementia?
If your elderly loved one has this disease, you should do all that you can to improve their lifestyle. While you can’t reverse this disease because there isn’t a cure for it, you can make your loved one’s life as good as it can be, for as long as possible. With art therapy, your elderly loved one can reap many benefits.
Stimulating Memories
One of the many things that art therapy can help your elderly loved one with, if they have dementia, is stimulating memories. Through art therapy, specifically music therapy, your elderly loved one is able to remember things that are held deeper in their brain. For instance, if you were to play music from when your elderly loved one was a teenager, they might remember things from that time in their life. Then, they can share these stories with you and their caregivers.
Spending Time with Others
If your elderly loved one has dementia, they might become more isolated. There may be activities they used to do with the family that they are no longer able to do. If this is the case, you may even find that you aren’t spending as much time with your loved one as you used to. However, this can change. With the help of art therapy, you and your elderly loved one can do something together. Many people with dementia enjoy painting or drawing. When doing art therapy, you and your elderly loved one can make something together. You can bond during this process.
Creating Something Beautiful
Does your elderly loved one need some positivity in their life? Maybe your loved one recently got diagnosed with dementia and they are feeling depressed about it. Did you know that research shows art therapy can reduce depression and stress? Many elderly people who have dementia find that creating something beautiful can put a smile on their face. It can bring happiness to even the worst days. If you or the caregivers help your elderly loved one to partake in art therapy, you can help them to happier.
Conclusion
These are some of the things that you should know about art therapy and dementia. While art therapy might not be the one and only treatment for dementia, it can help your elderly loved one a great deal. In fact, with regular art therapy, you can help your elderly loved one to feel happier, have more good days, and feel more alive.
Dementia is a progressive disease. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t do something to make things better in the meantime.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering Caregiver in Royal Oak, MI, please contact the caring staff at Alliance Senior Care today. Call (248) 274-2170.
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