Coloring Therapy Helps Alzheimer’s Patients and Dementia Sufferers in Numerous Ways – Part 2
By Best Coloring PagesMarch 15th 2016
Thank you for following our series, Coloring Therapy Helps Alzheimer’s Patients and Dementia Sufferers in Numerous Ways. We realize that our site is dedicated to coloring pages for kids; however, in recent months, there has been an increased interest in adult coloring pages and adult coloring activities, in general. This is why we feel it is important to include information about the benefits of coloring for various types of adults. Last week, you learned that coloring therapy is becoming increasingly popular among healthcare professionals and caregivers that assist those with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. You have learned that it reduces the symptoms of the conditions, engages the sufferer’s attention span, improves social behavior, and increases the self-esteem. This week, we will continue to expound on coloring therapy for those that suffer from these cognitive-based medical problems.
Coloring Therapy Stimulates the Brain
Based on numerous studies and evaluations, coloring therapy is more than just an activity to keep people with dementias busy; it is an activity that completely stimulates the brain. Coloring has the unique ability to actually stimulate the brain. People that have engaged in coloring therapy have experienced a stir of memories. Those that have struggled with words have experienced language recall. Those that have battled depression have experienced happiness. Dementias are diseases that take a lot from the brain of the sufferer; coloring therapy seems to give some of those things back to the patients. In addition to triggering certain memories, coloring therapy also helps in triggering memories that have been dormant for a long time.
Mary Hecht
Mary Hecht was a sculptor that was diagnosed with vascular dementia. The condition reduced the blood flow to the brain and drastically reduced her cognitive functioning. Though she did not engage in a lot of coloring therapy, she did engage in art through sculpting. This patient had a hard time with very basic animal names and even reading a clock; however, she could sculpt and sketch with extreme precision. Those that studied Mary determined that art therapy – in general – helps the brain in creating a brand new communication path. If you provide coloring pages and other art activities to a person with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, you are providing them with a wonderful opportunity to communicate, to experience excitement, and to enjoy the world around them.
The Awakening
Recently, there was an article in the publication, USA Today. This expounded on the fact that art therapy has a way of awakening those that are in a state of cognitive decline. It outlines that art has the ability to help patients communicate. Art is known to reduce signs of aggression in those that suffer from dementias. Coloring therapy aids in awakening memories and helps to connect patients on a social level. If you want to assist a person that suffers from a cognitive issue, such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, provide them with art projects – especially things like coloring pages. You are sure to see an awakening in them, too!
