As someone gets older, they need to find activities and things to do that will improve their mental and emotional health. Yes, they should still stay physically fit. However, keeping mentally and emotionally stable can help to reduce dementia and other types of cognitive decline. If you or senior care providers are taking care of your elderly loved one, it is important to know that art therapy is one of the things that could help them.

Improved Concentration

Most elderly adults who participate in art therapy will find they are able to concentrate better. Art therapy helps them to calm their brain and focus on what they need to. As people age, their concentration often gets worse. They find it is more difficult to focus on something for a period of time. However, if you start getting your elderly loved one into art therapy, it could help them to focus and concentrate better than they have in a while. This is because art therapy utilizes and stimulates various parts of the brain, improving cognitive abilities.

Reduced Pain

Many elderly adults will suffer from some sort of chronic or acute pain. This could come from arthritis, osteoarthritis, a back injury, surgery, or something else entirely. If your elderly loved one is suffering from pain for any reason, you should have them try out art therapy. Research shows that art therapy can relieve tension in the body. This can help to lower the amount of pain that your elderly loved one is in.

Reducing Depression, Anxiety, and Stress

If your elderly loved one is one of the many elderly adults that deal with depression, anxiety, or stress, it is important to do something to help them. There are numerous medications that can help to reduce depression, anxiety, and stress. However, those medications may not be necessary. There are also holistic measures that can be taken to help your elderly loved one feel better. Art therapy is one of those options.

Now that you know how art therapy can help your elderly loved one, it is time to get them started. While there are official art therapists who can help your loved one, you can also do art therapy with them in their own home. You and their senior care providers can do scrapbooking, painting, drawing, crafts, and other types of art with them. Pick out an artistic activity that you think they would enjoy and get the necessary items to help them create something amazing. Let them explore their creativity. In some people, with just one art therapy session, they start to reap the benefits. This could happen for your elderly loved one, as well.

The staff at Home Care Matters is available to talk with you and your family about all of your needs. Home Care Matters is a home care agency providing quality and affordable Home Care Services in Oakwood, GA, and surrounding areas. Call (770) 965.4004 for more information.

Sources
https://www.canr.msu.edu/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

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Valerie Darling

Founder, Owner at Home Care Matters

Valerie was born in Miami, FL and after a few family moves, grew up locally in the Marietta, GA area.Valerie is the oldest of 4 (3 younger brothers).She is married and has one child.Valerie is the Founder, Owner and CEO of Home Care Matters.Valerie’s mom, Dee, is the inspiration and primary driver as the how and why the business was born.Valerie says, “My mom is never far from our thoughts.Mom was an integral part of developing and starting HCM before she passed away.Our goal is to stay true to her memory and continue to honor her with the love, values, and ethics she taught us.”

Valerie has the unique experience with home care as she has experienced it from both ends of the spectrum, as a caregiver and as needing care herself as a cancer survivor. Valerie says, “Taking care of someone you love is a physically, mentally and demanding labor of love.Taking care of my mom was the hardest thing I have ever done. It has given me an insight and perspective not many people understand unless you are doing it or have done it.I loved taking care of my mom.I love helping others take care of their love ones too.And now that I’ve been sick, it’s given me a whole new level of empathy and understanding for those who are sick and need help.”

Valerie’s schedule varies daily, but she loves visiting with our clients, families, caregivers, our network partners and being in the office.Says Valerie, “Every day is different, but I wake up excited about what we do, inspired by our team, clients and caregivers.I strive to be a resource to the community.I love my team and I love what we do every day. I like to think my mom would be proud.”

You can reach Valerie by email (Valerie@homecarematters.com) or in our office (770.965.4004).

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