There is a growing recognition that the arts can enhance the quality of life for people living with dementia. This impact can be direct, by bringing emotional release or enjoyment to the person affected. It can also be indirect, by giving carers a stronger sense of purpose and resolve, or by making the wider community more compassionate and aware. While being relatively low-cost with minimal risk, arts and crafts offer numerous benefits including:
- Reduced Stress- Working on crafts can improve concentration, heighten confidence, and reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Trying new activities as an older adult can provide a sense of accomplishment and improve self-esteem.
- Reconnection- As their dementia progresses, your loved one may become increasingly withdrawn. But art can stimulate their memory, which helps them reconnect with the people around them.
- Decreased Agitation- One symptom of dementia is agitation, possibly due to changes in the senior’s environment, caregiver arrangements, misperceived threats to their safety, or just trying to make sense of an increasingly confusing world. Arts and crafts for seniors can provide a positive focus and an outlet to express their moods and thoughts, which translates into more stable emotions.
- Sensory Stimulation- Increased stimulation by working with colors, patterns, and textures may reawaken sensory perceptions and help them reconnect with the world around them.
- Promotes Socialization- Untreated isolation and loneliness can cause serious health problems in older adults, such as increased cognitive decline and depression. However, arts and crafts activities provide an opportunity to socialize with others, especially if you join a crafting group or club that meets consistently.
- Helps Fine Motor Skills– Many older adults experience a decline in their fine motor skills as they age. We use our fine motor skills each day when we feed ourselves, use our phones, button our shirts or put the key in the door. These activities can become more difficult for a number of reasons. However, the more we practice these skills, the better they become. Arts and crafts activities, such as sewing and knitting, help refine our fine motor skills.
- Promotes Cognitive Resilience- Crafting has the ability to involve many different areas of the brain, which ultimately strengthens memory, processing and problem-solving abilities. The more we provide a stimulating environment for our brains, the more their ability to become flexible and adaptable increases.
Adjusting Crafts for People with Dementia
While most arts and crafts activities can be adapted to be appropriate at any ability level, there are some tips you might consider when crafting specifically with people living with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia:
- While stimulating the brain is good, over-stimulation can cause confusion and anxiety. When leading a crafting activity, keep instructions simple, and avoid crafts with many different steps.
- The objective of an arts and crafts activity is to promote enjoyment. When we take the pressure off of achievement and instead focus on building upon the strengths and abilities we already have, the activity will be much more beneficial to a person’s overall wellbeing.
- If you’re working one-on-one, you might consider tapping into your loved one’s favorite pastimes or incorporate their favorite music into the activity.
- Lastly, keep safety in mind. If you are working with materials that are potentially harmful, keep them out of reach until it’s time to use them.
Craft Ideas for People with Dementia
A great starting place when choosing an activity to do with someone with dementia is to consider activities reminiscent of past hobbies. If your loved one has a history of working with their hands, projects like creating birdhouses or arranging flowers may be perfect for them.
If you’re having trouble deciding on an activity, here are some ideas:
- Puzzles- Assembling puzzles helps with creating focus and concentration on the task at hand. There are some puzzles specifically designed for people with dementia, or you can make your own by printing an enlarged photo of a favorite memory and cutting it into square pieces. Then assemble the square pieces like a puzzle. The completed picture puzzle may trigger recognition and help recall a joyful memory.
- Coloring and Painting- Adult coloring books offer a great form of self-expression and are a perfect, stress-reducing crafting activity. Paint-by-number kits are also great for older adults with memory loss, as they offer simple instructions. These kits cover every topic under the sun, so you can choose one appropriate for a person’s interests.
- Handmade Greeting Cards- This activity can be adapted to fit any skill level and can allow your loved one to feel connected to friends and family. If someone is unable to design their own, you can give them templates to cut out designs and shapes to decorate the cards.
- Collages- This is a great way to help evoke memories while inspiring creativity. Create theme-based collages from photographs, newsprint, fabric, magazine articles, and found objects. They are a fun way to experiment with shapes, layout, and textures. Lay them out with your senior on a sturdy piece of paper to determine their final location before gluing them.
- Clay Modeling- This is a great way to use fine motor skills while also getting in touch with your creative side. Air-dry modeling clay is the simplest of the clays to use. There are online instructions for crafting fun and useful items. Cutting out shapes with cookie cutters in Play-Dough can also be enjoyable.
- Create a Memory Box- Take any kind of box—a shoebox would be perfect—and help your senior fill it with items from his or her past. If they enjoyed cooking, put in some measuring spoons, if they liked to vacation at the beach, include some seashells, family photos, and souvenirs.
- Knitting and Crocheting- Both of these activities help improve mood and contribute to overall wellbeing, especially when done in a social setting. In addition, there are many clubs and groups designed just for beginners.
Overview
Arts and crafts create an avenue for communication and expression that may be especially beneficial for those living with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. On top of numerous health benefits like improving mood and refining fine motor skills, some experts also believe that crafting can have benefits for a person’s cognitive health. It can also be a great opportunity to socialize when joined by friends or family, like grandchildren.
When choosing what activity to do with your loved one, arts and crafts can often be inspired by your loved one’s interests or past hobbies. Capitalizing on the infinite opportunities for personalization may lead to a sense of comfort and encourage memory recall and emotional connection. And of course, it’s important to always consider how to adapt crafts to your loved one’s abilities, keeping safety front of mind.
Sources: National Institutes of Health, American Medical Association, Livewell, Bethesda Health, Maplewood Senior Living
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