What Are the Benefits of Art and Music Therapy for Dementia Residents?
If you have a loved one struggling with dementia, you may be wondering what treatments and therapies are available to help. We’re here to tell you that there is hope for those with memory loss.
Our dedicated team at Solterra Senior Living provides a range of services for our memory care residents. With our memory care communities conveniently located in Chandler and White Mountains in Arizona, residents are always surrounded by a beautiful landscape. Nestled in serene surroundings, our memory care residents enjoy an array of therapeutic treatments aimed at improving their quality of life.
Solterra’s team of dedicated professionals will be there for your loved one at every stage of their memory loss, providing individualized attention and personalized care.
Here’s how art and music therapy can be used in Chandler memory care to engage your loved one, both mentally and emotionally:
Art Therapy for Memory Care
Many people find art to be a source of comfort. Art allows creative expression and helps us get in touch with our emotions. You may have heard the phrase “A picture is worth a thousand words”. The saying sums up how art allows us to express ourselves in ways that words simply cannot.
The same is true for our memory care residents. The brush stroke of paint on a canvas can have a calming effect and assist individuals with dementia in navigating complex emotions. It can also sharpen their mental faculties, improving their ability to recall past memories and put them to canvas.
Art therapy is so beneficial for people with dementia that the Alzheimer’s Association has a program called Memories in the Making, that allows those with Alzheimer’s or dementia to express themselves through watercolor painting.
Art therapy is believed to be an effective form of expression for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia because making art uses a different part of the brain than language does. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) cites the work of Dr. Bruce L. Miller. The AARP quotes Miller as saying “We think that in patients with language loss, the visual side of their brain stops being inhibited by the verbal side and that allows their visual creativity to be released.”
Art therapy is believed to be an effective form of expression for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia because making art uses a different part of the brain than language does. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) cites the work of Dr. Bruce L. Miller. The AARP quotes Miller as saying “We think that in patients with language loss, the visual side of their brain stops being inhibited by the verbal side and that allows their visual creativity to be released.”
By allowing their creative side to flow freely, artwork engages our dementia residents and improves their cognitive abilities. Art therapy provides our dementia residents a creative outlet, relaxes them, and presents them with the opportunity of communicating through images rather than words.
Whether it be painting, drawing, or another form of artistic expression, art therapy gives people with dementia a sense of purpose, allowing them to tap into their innermost thoughts and feelings. Just like words on paper, the canvas becomes a way to express and communicate.
Music Therapy for Memory Care
Music is good for the mind, body, and soul. How often does a song remind us of a fond memory, or make us want to shake our hips along to the beat of the music? The same feeling is true for dementia residents.
Research supports the theory that music therapy can improve cognitive function in dementia patients. One 2020 study identified several positive outcomes of music therapy for people with dementia, improving their quality of life, as well as having a long-term effect on depression symptoms associated with the disorder.
Music can also reduce anxiety, boost our mood, and positively impact our mental faculties. More specifically, the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) points to a range of benefits music therapy has on dementia’s behavioral and psychological symptoms. In addition to decreased anxiety and improved mood, the AMTA states that music therapy can increase alertness, enhance memory recall, and improve communication, sleep, and appetite in people with memory disorders.
Dance is important as well, not only for exercise but for those who have history with dance and movement, like former ballet dancers and ballroom competitors. Many of us have seen the videos on social media of dementia patients who normally do not interact with others, standing and dancing along with a familiar song.
Incorporating Art and Music for Memory Care
If you have a loved one with dementia and you’d like to incorporate more art and music into their everyday lives, the Memory Care Foundation has some good tips to assist you in initiating your endeavors.
When playing music, try to let your loved one select what they want to listen to or play the type of music they are most likely to enjoy. Play music similar to the mood you are trying to evoke, selecting soothing music for a calming environment or an upbeat and familiar song to lift their spirits.
Encourage singing, dancing, or clapping along to the music, if possible. The Alzheimer’s Association also recommends ensuring music is at an appropriate volume and eliminating competing noises, such as sound coming from a television or outdoor commotion.
If your loved one has middle- or late-stage Alzheimer’s and you’d like to encourage creative expression through art, choose projects that are at an adult level. Help your loved one start the project if they need a little assistance and encourage them along the way.
Ask questions about what they’re creating and engage them in conversation. Use safe instruments (avoid sharp objects) and nontoxic materials only.
To be most effective, though, art and music therapy should be conducted by trained and licensed professionals. For instance, in a professional care setting, a licensed care team can perform an assessment to determine what type of therapy will be most effective and what specific needs should be addressed.
If your loved one needs professional memory care services, we’re happy to provide more information on our White Mountains and Chandler memory care communities at Solterra Senior Living. Our focus is on person-centered care delivered by an experienced, compassionate team of professionals in a beautiful, serene setting. We work hard to create a safe, secure, and comfortable environment.
Interested in learning more about our memory care? Schedule a time to meet with us and take a tour of our Solterra community. You can see for yourself what we’re all about and how your loved one may be able to benefit from the memory care therapies and services we provide here.