Recently there has been a wealth of interesting information about the important value of creative activity for Alzheimer’s sufferers. One of the finest projects was conceived by John Zeisel , President of Hearthstone Geriatric Facilities, with Francesca Rosenberg. Groups of men and women are taken to see art collections at the MOMA in New York and the Fine Arts Museum in Boston. The paintings, says Randy Kennedy, of the New York Times, (The Pablo Picasso Alzheimer’s Therapy) “sometimes spark interpretive and expressive powers” that had previously been hidden. And care officials say that “at the very least, they see temporary but palpable and moving, improvement in the small group of people who have participated in the tours.”
Through my experience as an art therapist with Alzheimer’s patients, I can confirm the value of this passive art activity, of the stimulating effects of observing powerful, beautiful, colorful images. Sometimes, when working with patients who were simply too confused, too depressed, and too tired to take crayon to paper, I would bring an art book and direct their gaze to paintings that, with experience, I had learned would elicit alert interest. For instance, the pictures of Edward Hopper, with their scenes
of isolation and loneliness could result in a conversation about their own loneliness. Chagall’s colorful images of men and women, marriage, and intimacy could lead to memories of past, youthful love and their own romances.
Try this: Collect some of these images, sit close to your loved one, and begin to talk about the picture. Ask them if they like the picture and why. Ask which colors they like, what feeling the picture gives them. Share your own feelings, which will then stimulate them to agree or disagree. Ask them what they think is happening in the picture. Maybe what will happen later to any one of the characters in the picture. Help them to focus on what they see and relate to it. If it is a portrait, focus on the features, what they say about the person. Ask if they would like to get to know that person. Have a laugh about the name that you might give to him or her.
There are a few “dont’s.”
Don’t choose very frightening images (Goya’s “black Paintings” for instance. Confused people are essentially emotionally vulnerable.)
Don’t choose very abstract pictures. They are harder to talk about.
Don’t choose pictures with many small details that confuse the eye. Old people often have eyesight difficulties and the image can appear to them as a muddle of shapes that they cannot interpret.
Good luck. Let me know how it went. If there were difficulties, share them with me. Maybe I can help.
