Why Art Matters
Art helps to spark memories, and it can bring a sense of comfort, beauty, and the familiarity of home into an otherwise sterile environment.
It is not just about aesthetics. Bringing art into your hallways and rooms in your home has been shown to reduce anxiety among seniors, create a more pleasant experience, and improve the well-being and mental acuity of Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.
Exploring the Psychological Benefits
One exploratory study has shown that a visit to an art gallery has a positive effect when it comes to enhancing episodic memory and verbal fluency. While frequent trips to galleries may not always be possible, especially during pandemic times, facilities and organizations have seen that same level of impact when bringing art into the space.
Often, imagery of a home, an animal, people, or other familiar and comforting scenes will spark memories, especially for those struggling with Alzheimer’s or dementia. It will remind an elderly person of a pet they had, of family members, or of moments they experienced when they were young.
When seniors are asked what their thoughts are when they look at a particular piece of artwork, they will often talk about a personal memory from their past. It helps them to reconnect with their relationships, self, and the life they have led. It opens the doors to a wealth of experiences that go far beyond old age.
Bringing in the Comfort of Home
Artwork offers something familiar to connect to.
While a lot of money goes into homes and making sure that it meets all requirements for safe living, that’s not usually the first thing that seniors notice when they enter. What catches their eye is the artwork, the thing that makes the space more than just another impersonal building.
That is something that everyone can benefit from, not just those with Alzheimer’s and dementia, although they have been shown to benefit greatly. It is important to have artwork throughout and not simply in the areas dedicated to Alzheimer’s and dementia care.
Choosing the Right Artwork
“People benefit most from comfort imagery – scenes of daily life with homes, children, and animals.”
Colour plays a role as well. A mix of warm, relaxing, and lively tones can really help to fill the visual space.
The thoughts that the art inspires should be positive and beneficial. While artists often seek to focus a spotlight on the problems of the world, there is also plenty of available art that focuses on the joys of life, on the little things that bring us happiness throughout our years. Those are the works to focus on.
