Art, music and pet therapy - Today's Ancillaries, part 2

Nursing Homes, July-August, 1996 by Laura Bruck

As experienced staff know, cognitive impairment does not prevent residents from experiencing a range of feelings, which often include frustration and anger, both of which are compounded by the inability to express those feelings. Art therapy, says Denis, provides "a vehicle for affective discharge of feelings and a way to communicate those feelings to caregivers and family."

Denis also uses art as a means of sensory exploration and stimulation. During the advanced stages of progressive dementias, when the ability to regulate responses to internal and external stimuli becomes increasingly difficult, the exploration of art materials and the sensual quality of the art medium itself can be a source of simple pleasure. Denis notes that because of this, normally restless, inattentive residents will often focus on their creative endeavors for extended periods.

Art as a "self-reflective" activity, can help residents to rekindle a sense of their own personality, says Denis. While the sense of personal identity probably persists far into the end stages of dementia, that "sense of self" becomes increasingly difficult to express. Art provides a vehicle for doing so.

Fine Motor Skill Development

The act of creating a piece of art - manipulating a paint brush, working with clay, putting paint on a canvas - is an effective and creative way to improve dexterity and range of motion. Denis sometimes works with occupational therapy on these skills, using adaptive equipment such as table easels and large grips for pens, pencils and brushes.

These types of activities provide residents not only with a vehicle for self-expression, but also with a success-oriented way to improve physical dexterity and a tangible finished product that allows residents to see and take pride in the results of their efforts.

Other forms of art therapy focus on the artwork itself rather than on the process of creating it. Artline, Ltd. in Waukesha, WI. produces a line of "Interactive Therapeutic Art" aimed at facilitating wayfinding, encouraging reminiscence and providing visual, tactile and auditory stimulation. The artwork is created in conjunction with the Alzheimer's Association of Southeastern Wisconsin.

A creative long-term care provider can usually find a way to provide art therapy services for his or her residents - either by contracting for the services of an art therapist to run specialized groups and teach art therapy techniques to staff, or by hiring an art therapist under the departments of Recreation Therapy or Rehabilitation. Start-up costs for basic materials for an art therapy program range from about $300 to $500 and, Denis notes, the materials tend to last longer than they might in other settings. She adds that supplies are often donated as well.

The finished product of art therapy also gives the facility the opportunity to share the program with the community through exhibitions, which are often well-received. Denis also notes that residents frequently make gifts of their artwork to family, staff or as a memorial to a loved one.