Art For Seniors

Art is a creative process. You’re building something from nothing. This helps to stimulate your mind and give you a sense of wellbeing and accomplishment. This can be an art project like painting, sketching or sculpting but it can also include building things, or creating and listening to music. It can be writing or telling stories. Incorporating movement or dance is another great way to express yourself.  Art can be especially helpful for seniors!

Researchers have found that various art programs can reduce stress, minimize anxiety, and improve mood. They’ve also found that using art and creativity regularly can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s and slow its progress. Art therapy can even benefit family caregivers, lowering stress and giving them a non-verbal way to connect with their loved ones.

How can using art and creativity impact your life?

There is increasing scientific evidence that art can enhance your brain’s function and provide intellectual stimulation. When you challenge seniors to create a piece of art, you’re asking them to look at things from a different perspective. This helps stimulate their minds and increase cognitive skills.  In seniors that have memory loss it can even stimulate their senses and trigger forgotten memories.

Physical Improvements

Art can help improve motor skills. The movements and coordination required for certain types of art can improve motor functions. With the increased use of their hands and arms seniors can help improve blood flow and muscle coordination. They can even enhance their physical dexterity and improve range of motion. By improving that range of motion, you can decrease inflammation and reduce pain. Some people even argue that using art regularly can boost your immune system!

Improvements in Well Being

Creativity can improve emotional balance, allowing seniors to relieve stress and anxiety. It encourages seniors to focus on expressing their feelings and release any internal emotional turmoil. This in turn, reduces their overall stress levels. Creating anything helps to stimulate the release of dopamine, the chemical in our brain that regulates our happiness. Increasing this neurotransmitter helps improve self-esteem, make you feel better and can help battle depression.

Art is a wonderful tool for self-expression. Seniors can learn how to connect with themselves or with others. It can reduce the feelings of loneliness and isolation and make seniors feel a part of something bigger. This is especially true with seniors impacted by memory loss of other problems affecting communication.

Art can allow seniors to look at their values and beliefs and lead to emotional and spiritual growth, thus improving their self-esteem. It can even change a senior’s outlook on the world and how they view themselves.

Art for Seniors at Home

There are many art activities you can do from home. Start simple and find activities that stimulate the senses, make you think creatively. If you are working with a loved one, use tools that are appropriate for seniors. Using tools that are meant for children can be demeaning and discourage seniors from participating. Take a look in your community to see what art classes might be available and appropriate for your loved ones level of ability.