Benefits of Art Interventions for Individuals with Dementia

1. Benefits of Art Interventions for Individuals with Dementia RemiKoffs 5755 Prescott Ct Bensalem, PA 19020 (215)-313-2311 Remi.Koffs@temple.edu

2. Dementia • A progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys brain cells and affects a person’s memory, ability to learn, make judgments, communicate, and carry out basic daily activities. (Alzheimer’s Association)

3. Diagnostic Groups of Dementia • Alzheimer’s Type • Vascular Dementia • Lewy Body Dementia • Frontal Lobe Dementia • Substance-induced Dementia • Picks Disease • Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) • Delirium (Best-Martini, Weeks, Wirth, 2011)

4. Early Signs of Dementia • Loss of short-term memory • Language problems • Mood Swings • Personality changes • Difficulty completing daily activities • Impaired abstract thinking, insight, and judgment • The disease may further limit the person’s functional ability causing Agnosia, Apraxia, and Aphasia. (Merck Manual)

5. Intermediate Signs of Dementia • Inability to recall and learn new information • Reduced memory • May need assistance with ADLs • Progressing personality changes • Complete loss of sense of time and place • Ambulatory • Possible hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia (Merck Manual)

6. Late (severe) Dementia • Inability to walk, feed self, swallow, or do any other ADLs • Incontinence • Recent and remote memory is completely lost • Eventually mute (Merck Manual)

7. Why Is Art Used As An Intervention? • Facilitates reparation and recovery • Form of nonverbal communication of thoughts and feelings • Encourages personal growth (Malchiodi, 2012)

8. Art and Brain Functioning: Image Formation • Art making is an experience that can simultaneously engage many parts of the brain • Cortical • Limbic • Midbrain • Brain Stem • “Bilateral Art Making” (Malchiodi, 2012)

9. Art and Brain Functioning: Image Formation • Reframes how individuals feel • Allows them to respond to an event or experience • Helps them work on emotional or behavioral change • Art making allows individuals to actively try out, experiment with, or rehearse a desired change through a drawing, painting, or other type of craft (Malchiodi, 2012)

10. Therapist VijaLusebring believes that images are a bridge between body and mind • Our bodies respond to images as if they are reality (Malchiodi, 2012)

11. Evidence Based Practice • Interventions Supporting Self and Identity in People with Dementia: A Systematic Review (Caddell & Clare, 2011) • Group setting • Paints, pastels, pencils, clay • Priorities • To support independence and a homely atmosphere • To focus on patients remaining strengths and abilities • To improve self esteem • To offer opportunities for socialization, expression, and spasticity

12. Interventions Supporting Self and Identity in People with Dementia: A Systematic Review(Caddell & Clare, 2011) • Results: • Participants claimed that art interventions as a form of RT felt more meaningful and valuable than other interventions since it allowed them to form a scenario that was free from expectations and constraints Gave them an opportunity to “hold onto themselves a little while longer” • Helped express the remaining strengths of the participants • Offered an opportunity for communication • Allowed them to cope with an environment that has become frightening • Allowed them to temporary consolidate themselves and gain a sense of control • Enhanced: • Motivation, • Confidence • Ability to overcome isolation

13. Creative Opportunities for Patients’ Wellbeing (Holford, 2011) • Benefits • Feel happier and more positive about self and situation • Feel less isolated and more connected with other people and the outside world • Gain a sense of purpose and meaning • Improve their self-confidence, empowerment, self-esteem, and social inclusion • Gain a sense of choice and control over their lives and daily activities • Improve their physical fitness, sensoryawareness, and physical dexterity “Deep lasting effects, helping people not only adapt and respond to changes in their health, but even transform their attitudes to their conditions and their lives”

14. Recreation Therapy Program Ideas • Enhance Facility Environment (Mental Health Practice, 2011) • Welcome sign, wall hanging from patchwork flowers, painted squares, origami • Hang up well known art pieces • Expressive Painting • Explores deep memories

15. Tips for TR Practice • Keep project at adult level • Build conversation into project • Help individual begin activity • Use safe material • Allow for plenty of time (Alzheimer’s Association)

16. Alzheimer’s Association: Memories in the Making

17. Resources (2013, March 13) Example of arts activities helping seniors with alzheime. r’s and dementia remember [Weblog]. Retrieved from http://www.arttherapyblog.com/art-therapy-seniors/arts-activities -helps-elderly-with-alzheimers-and-dementia- remember/#.UWKFFJPqm30 Alzheimer's association. (n.d.). What is dementia?Retrieved from http://www.alz.org/what-is-dementia.asp?gclid=CKDsxLXSurYCFeRxOgody3AA0g Alzheimer's association. (n.d.). Memories in the making. Retrieved from http://www.alznorcalblog.org/2012/02/ Alzheimer's association. (n.d.). Music, art, and alzheimer's. Retrieved from http://www.alz.org/care/alzheimers-dementia-music-art-therapy.asp Best-Martini, E., Weeks, M., Wirth, P. (2011) Long term care for activity professionals, social services professionals, and recreational therapists, sixth edition. Enumclaw, Washington: Idyll Arbor Inc. Caddell, L., & Clare, L. (2011). Interventions supporting self and identity in people with dementia: A systematic review. Aging & Mental Health, 15(7), 797-810. doi:10.1080/13607863.2011.575352 Auchus, A. (2007, August). The merck manual for health care professionals. Retrieved from http://www.merckmanuals.com/ professional/neurologic_disorders/delirium_and_dementia/dementia.html?qt=dementia&alt=sh Holford, A. (2011). Creative opportunities for patients' wellbeing. Primary Health Care, 21(6), 16-20. Malchiodi, C. (2012). Handbook of art therapy. (2nd ed.). New York, NY: A Division of Guilford Publications, Inc. Shorters, V. (2011). Creating a hospital-based arts project for older people. Mental Health Practice, 15(3), 24-26.