Barbara had a bad attitude her entire life, and it didn’t improve when she struggled with dementia. Snarky, sometimes mean, but also needy and wanting all the attention all the time, she’d always looked after herself. Now she couldn’t, and she wasn’t gracious about it. Even her dementia didn’t stop her from making snide remarks to anyone seated next to her.
Creative activities go far beyond art classes. Reading, dance, music, reminiscing and poetry can all be a part of the creative menu which brings so many benefits to people with dementia.
On this day, we were flower arranging. Nothing fancy, just a few bunches of grocery store flowers, some vases and several ladies around a table. The popularity of this activity astounded me, but so many loved the colours of the flowers and the chatter around the table. I’d invited Barbara, fully expecting her to decline, but she surprised me by indicating she wanted to come. She wore her perpetual scowl, so I sat her a little apart from those who might be offended by her comments. Grace, a sweet, blind resident sat near her and probably wouldn’t participate.
I moved around the table, talking to residents and helping others, so I didn’t notice the miracle happening at the end.
Barbara had scooted her wheelchair towards Grace, and kept a steady stream of lovely conversation which astounded me. “These are blue. Do you remember what blue looks like? I think they’d look nice in the middle. Can you feel these ones? The blooms are large, and we probably only need three of them. That’s right. Let’s put them here.” I moved away, not wanting to interrupt the flow of both language and kindness coming from Barbara. Something in this creative activity had opened a door in her.
Creative arts is not a cure for Dementia or any other Dementia-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s. However, it has the power to foster dignity and restore a sense of self. By unleashing the creativity in individuals, art encourages past memories to come to life and has the power to validate a person’s current situation. 1.
Why does it work?
- Some form of artistic expression can reduce anxiety. The person with dementia who experiences anxiety can feel like a hamster on a wheel, going over and over the same issues in their minds. A creative activity breaks through, and sometimes calms these feelings by giving another focus.
Artistic expression keeps them connected to the rest of the world when their disease tends to bring disconnect.- Group activities (such as art classes, dance, reading groups) provide much needed socialization.
- The act of making something, even with no skill involved, provides focus and leads to feelings of satisfaction and quality of life.
- Art is a way to communicate which can help when language is either absent or dwindling.
This month, we are going to look at how different forms of creative expression can enhance the lives of elders on a dementia journey. I want to end with this beautiful story, which was entitled “Amazement Through Art.”
“Alongside You” had the pleasure of visiting with an elderly gentleman who was in the later stages of Alzheimer’s disease. His fine motor skills were a challenge to use, but he managed to hold a paint brush with the help of his caregiver. He had never taken to art before, but his caregiver had tried art with him at home a few times and he seemed to enjoy it. As we helped him pick colours, apply them to the canvas and wash his brush, he kept asking: “Who is painting this, who is doing this?” He could
not make the connection that he was painting the picture in front of him. After several failed attempts to explain that it was he who was in fact painting with the brushes, we had the idea to take his picture and film a short video. After filming for a short while, we set the iPad in front of him along with his painted canvas. As he looked, he slowly came to realize that it was he who had painted it and he started to laugh. With continued fits of laughter, he just couldn’t believe it was him! “That’s me? That’s not me! I can’t do that! But I see it’s me! There I am making the picture!” He was grinning from ear to ear and it was the most animated he had been all week. His sense of humour as a youth had returned in that moment and joy filled his heart and ours. Using art, we were able to step over the barriers of verbal communication and communicate in new and exciting ways. That day, art was truly transformational. 2.
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- https://www.alongsideyou.ca/improving-quality-life-people-dementia-alzheimers-getting-creative/
- https://www.alongsideyou.ca/improving-quality-life-people-dementia-alzheimers-getting-creative/