We also learned that even when people can no longer drive to the grocery store or remember their grandchildren’s names, their lives can still be rich. In fact, because their reactions are sometimes less filtered and more honest, their creative powers are often heightened.
Creative Projects Jazz Up the Day and Light Up the Spirit
Too often, people living with dementia are entertained instead of engaged. Their lifelong activities are stripped away, and they have little to do. Research shows that artistic and imaginative activities reduce the need for psychotropic medications. With such engagement, people’s sense of well-being and purpose improves. Agitation and depression can diminish. Doing activities together increases social interactions, builds positive energy, and adds a sense of discovery to the day.
Research shows that artistic and imaginative activities reduce the need for psychotropic medications.
These creative activities benefit family and professional care partners as well. According to Sarah Zoutewelle-Morris, author of Chocolate Rain: 100 Ideas for a Creative Approach to Activities in Dementia Care, participating in projects allows a mutual exchange: You give to the person living with dementia, and she gives to you. Working or playing together lowers stress and can bring an increased sense of peace.
“The creative approach is a sincere belief in people’s potential, celebrating who they are, respecting them, and supporting their autonomy,” says Sarah. “Anything can be a meaningful activity. It’s all about helping people express themselves.”
The ideas and activities in this book will add joy and substance to your time with people who are living with dementia. As a bonus, these exercises are also a boost for you. Increasingly, studies show that painting, drawing, and other arts and crafts reduce the risk of cognitive impairment. Additional activities such as music, movement, gardening, and social interactions strengthen the body, brain, and spirit.
Increasingly, studies show that painting, drawing, and other arts and crafts reduce the risk of cognitive impairment. Additional activities such as music, movement, gardening, and social interactions strengthen the body, brain, and spirit.
“Creativity is contagious, pass it on.” —Albert Einstein
For years, I’ve been interviewing people who use creativity, imagination, and expressive therapies to connect with people living with dementia. These experts helped me translate their groundbreaking ideas into simple projects that family and professional care partners can use.
Here are a few sneak previews of the transformative benefits:
As usual, Henry is slumped silently in his wheelchair, eyes closed, hands listless in his lap. Dan Cohen puts the headphones on Henry and turns on the MP3 player, which is programmed with Henry’s favorite tunes from the 1940s. When the music starts, Henry suddenly raises his head and opens his eyes. He smiles, snaps his fingers, and taps his feet, echoing his old dance steps. Such responses to music fueled the international Music and Memory movement. Today, thousands of people living with dementia are waking up their creative spirits through music.
Nan often spent long hours playing solitaire with a well-worn deck of cards. But when her confusion increased, her dexterity diminished, and her eyesight dimmed, she could no longer handle the deck, and her daughter sadly put away the cards. Then her daughter bought a computer tablet boasting a touch screen. She showed her mother how to play solitaire by simply touching the desired card and moving it, on the screen, to the proper pile. Now they both enjoy huddling together and discussing strategies. The card game has become an important part of their weekly visit.
At first, Gary Glazner thinks everyone in the dayroom is asleep. The memory care residents are silently slumped in chairs and wheelchairs. But Gary is determined to share the verses he brought.
“I shot an arrow into the air,” he reads.
“And it came down, I know not where,” a man in a wheelchair replies. Even though his head is bowed and his eyes are closed, the familiar poem resonates with him.
Experiences like this were the catalyst for Gary Glazner’s Poetry Project, a global outreach that encourages communicating through poetry.
For some people, the spark comes through music; others are moved by storytelling, theater, dance, movement, cooking, technology, art, or gardening. This book shows you simple ways to use these art forms to relate to people who are living with dementia.
Today, thousands of people living with dementia are waking up their creative spirits through music.
“You need chaos in your soul to give birth to a dancing star.” —Friedrich Nietzsche
The demands on your time are legion. Your stresses are mountains, and your periods of calm and solitude are as rare as snow leopards. When people encourage you to try various activities to connect with a person living with dementia, you may think, Why bother? She won’t remember anyway. She won’t like it or won’t agree to participate. Besides, I don’t have time, I’m worn out, and I’m not creative.
Yet, there are many reasons to pursue creative connections. The experts I interviewed for this book believe imaginative activities boost energy and increase the ways to stay connected and stimulated. These interactions can also add purpose to your lives.
“Meaningful activities have to be as big a priority as medicine, bathing, and meal times.”
Marie Marley, PhD, former care partner and coauthor (with neurologist Daniel C. Potts, MD, FAAN) of Finding Joy in Alzheimer’s: New Hope for Caregivers, has experienced going beyond resistance. Marie’s beloved partner Ed was a devotee of classical music. When he developed dementia, friends suggested Marie and Ed listen to symphonic recordings together. But that sounded boring to Marie, and for weeks she resisted the recommendation. Then one day, when conversation with Ed wasn’t working, she put on some Mozart. Ed instantly began moving with the music. Knowing how Ed loved a flamboyant conductor, Marie waved her arms, tossed her head, and jumped up and down, urging the invisible orchestra to play its heart out. Ed was thrilled. Afterward he told her, “That was really beautiful.”
“Once I overcame my resistance, I intuitively knew I should emulate a conductor.” Marie says. “Listening to music became a meaningful way to spend time together.”
Later, Marie hired a violinist who arrived, suited up in a tuxedo, to play a special concert for Ed.
“Ed loved the experience,” Marie says. “I knew he wouldn’t remember it, but you have to live in the moment. Research shows that even if people don’t remember, their joy and happiness can linger on.”
Marie learned to encourage Ed to try new things and was surprised when he enjoyed pursuits he would never have considered in earlier life. She also learned to try something different if an idea didn’t seem to be working.
“When you find activities you like, it’s great for both of you,” Marie says.
Author Mara Botonis agrees: “Meaningful activities have to be as big a priority as medicine, bathing, and meal times.”
“The project might not look like it is going as planned, but