Todd Sumamno
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive condition that gradually worsens, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be slowed down. Here, you will learn how exercising one’s creativity, such as through art and design, can potentially provide some symptomatic relief and improve your quality of life.
It Can Help Attention & Memory
No matter one’s skill level, exercising one’s creativity through any means requires attention, and it can benefit one’s cognitive abilities.
By regularly engaging in artistic endeavors, people can strengthen the many pathways in the brain and possibly delay their deterioration. This can help preserve many vital functions, such as focusing and recalling information, similar to puzzles and games, which can also help patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
It Can Reinforce Social Skills
Being creative isn’t something one needs to do on their own, and it can be an excellent way to encourage social interaction with other people, like friends, family, caregivers, and therapists.
Conversing can have many of the same mental health benefits discussed in the previous section, and it can give them a way to talk about what’s on their minds. In addition, by avoiding isolation and spending time with others through a mutual hobby can preserve their ability to be social. Instead of dreading it due to the cognitive decline, art can be wholesome and productive and give patients something to greatly look forward to.
It Can Improve Mood
Lastly, the purpose of an outlet is to be a form of self-expression, and activities like art and design can provide that, which can reduce many of the emotional effects that come with Alzheimer’s.
For example, those who engage in these pastimes often feel less anxious and agitated and instead find calmness and satisfaction in what they enjoy doing. Stress is linked with various mental health problems, and finding relief can also potentially help slow down the progression of dementia.
Professional Assistance For Alzheimer’s Disease
While there isn’t a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, excellent resources can help patients find a higher quality of life by managing some of the symptoms.
One way to do this is through art therapy, which combines the creative process with psychotherapy techniques. Here, they can work with a mental health professional who can help individuals with Alzheimer’s process their feelings and emotions via their creations while also taking advantage of the other perks mentioned in this article.
If you are interested in learning about Alzheimer’s disease and how individuals can learn to cope with it, please visit BetterHelp, where you can access free articles like this one at the link down below:
https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/alzheimers/
Additionally, if you have a loved one who has been diagnosed, you are encouraged to reach out for assistance and learn ways of handling the stress that can come with caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease.
Conclusion
Hopefully, by reading this article, you have a better understanding of how creative outlets can be incredibly helpful for people struggling with dementia. Even with declining cognitive abilities, people can find fulfillment and a strong sense of purpose by finding a means of expression and a passion that gives them a positive outlook on life.
Brittany
