{"id":458,"date":"2017-06-16T21:37:08","date_gmt":"2017-06-16T21:37:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/carebuildersathomemn.com\/?p=458"},"modified":"2017-06-16T21:37:08","modified_gmt":"2017-06-16T21:37:08","slug":"art-therapy-and-alzheimers-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carebuildersathome.com\/minnesota\/blog\/art-therapy-and-alzheimers-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"Art Therapy and Alzheimer\u2019s Disease"},"content":{"rendered":"

Art therapy is sometimes used as part of a treatment program for people with Alzheimer\u2019s disease. Though art therapy won\u2019t cure the disease and may not even improve cognitive ability, it is believed to enhance the lives of patients with Alzheimer\u2019s, and people report some pretty amazing things as a result of art therapy. For example, Dr. Daniel C. Potts, founder of Cognitive Dynamics, witnessed the benefits of art therapy in his own father, Lester, who had Alzheimer\u2019s. Lester had never shown any talent for art before his diagnosis, but became a renowned painter who used watercolors during his years with the disease.<\/p>\n

What Is Art Therapy?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Art therapy is a facet of the mental health profession. It is the use of art to help people to express and examine their feelings through the creative process. Art therapy helps in a recovery or treatment process by giving the patient a sense of personal well-being and satisfaction. It is used in all kinds of settings, including hospitals, schools, rehab facilities, long-term care facilities, and in community groups.<\/p>\n

There are professional art therapists who attend university and are credentialed in the field. Attending sessions with a professional art therapist may have the greatest benefit for people with Alzheimer\u2019s, but there are also benefits to simply offering art activities at home. Both family caregivers and professional senior care providers can assist Alzheimer\u2019s patients with art projects, which can be enjoyable for everyone involved.<\/p>\n

How Can Art Therapy Help?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Art therapy gives people with Alzheimer\u2019s a venue for expressing how they are feeling when they may be incapable of otherwise expressing their thoughts. Other ways that art therapy can help are by:<\/p>\n