The Art of Therapy
Therapeutic programs designed to connect with Alzheimer’s patients on an emotional level are successfully—and unexpectedly—fighting symptoms of the disease. We take a look at two such programs that are helping transform how we treat the disease and reduce the need for medication.
Dr. Joseph Lipinski dips his thin brush into a dollop of pink paint and drags the bristles across his watercolor painting. The 70-year-old, a former neuropsychopharmacology doctor, wasn’t known for his artistic flair until he developed Alzheimer’s disease.
There are about 12 other seniors, each with dementia, sitting around Lipinski, dabbing brushes and rendering spring flowers into art. And like the former doctor, many never picked up a brush before their golden years. They are all residents of Hearthstone at New Horizons, an assisted living facility for people with Alzheimer’s.
A growing number of centers like Hearthstone, as well as organizations and museums across the globe, are employing holistic methods to treating Alzheimer’s. Through practices like gardening, painting, film, and even art criticism, they’re finding ways to reduce agitation, confusion, apathy and other symptoms of dementia.
In some cases, the results have led to a drastic decrease in the need for drugs to combat this mind-altering disease.
According to Dr. John Zeisel, a sociologist and co-founder of Hearthstone Alzheimer Care, these non-pharmacological programs don’t just treat symptoms like aggression and anxiety, they prevent them. “We make those symptoms go away by giving people meaning in their lives—a reason to have a goal,” he says.
One of the most effective behavioral activities has proven to be one of the simplest—getting out in the garden and sitting in the sun.
Healing Gardens
Hearthstone has created what they call Healing Gardens, physical pathways for patients to plant flowers, socialize and reminisce. According to Zeisel, these gardens decrease aggression and wandering and help patients maintain a sense of independence.
For the past 15 years, Zeisel has been crafting an innovative approach to the disease—one centered on the amygdala, the brain’s emotional core. This part of the brain remains untouched by the effects of Alzheimer’s, according to therapists working in the field.
“The reason gardens really work is they help our brains function better and give us memories and give us experiences,” Zeisel says. Each Hearthstone Healing Garden is designed with a back patio, a lawn, a circular path, and even a mailbox. Every detail is in place to either elicit memories or give residents simple moments that require little thought.
Dr. John Zeisel, co-founder of Hearthstone Alzheimer Care, discusses how Alzheimer’s affects the brain and why Healing Gardens and other holistic approaches are transformative in treating the disease.
Time outdoors, an essential aspect of these gardens, affects the chiasmatic nuclei—the region of the brain that keeps time and regulates the body’s circadian rhythm, according to Zeisel. He says sunlight affects the nuclei, helping patients capture a sense of season and time.
In addition to helping regulate mood and sleep cycles, the gardens extend into daily life at Hearthstone. Staff members incorporate garden produce into cooking classes, and patients use flowers as props and inspiration in writing and painting classes.
Art therapy at Hearthstone extends into Alzheimer’s programs at cultural institutions throughout the world. Hearthstone is currently collaborating with the Louvre and a French hospital on a tour-based project that studies participant behavior over time.
Hearthstone’s research influenced early pilot programs at the Museum of Modern Art, which has since developed its own programs and outreach efforts.
Meet Me at MoMA
In 2006, MoMA launched “Meet Me at MoMA” where once a month trained educators guide individuals with Alzheimer’s through famous works of art, empowering them to share their thoughts in a social setting.
“People with Alzheimer’s are able to respond to emotional, social and intellectual stimulation and benefit from it,” said Francesca Rosenberg, Director of Community and Access Programs at MoMA.
At the outset of one Meet Me program, Rosenberg remembers a participant who was initially very quiet. His hands were shaking. When he saw Mondrian’s “Broadway Boogie Woogie,” his whole demeanor changed. He spoke of life years ago, when he would visit New York jazz clubs. “He was back to his old self,” she says. “That was a great transformation to see.”
Program educators routinely consult with medical experts to learn how best to engage participants. Educators speak slowly. They tend to limit historical points, she explains. Rather than talking about the disease, they focus on group socialization. “This program is as much for the caregiver as it is for the patient,” Rosenberg says.
Coordinators of the MoMA program select themes and works that may help participants bond over the past. “They do sometimes enable people to tap into long-term memories,” Rosenberg says. “That’s very validating for them. Only they can talk about what happened during the war or on Coney Island back in the day.”
Regardless of whether participants connect with the past, exploring the artwork helps them “be in the present and enjoy the present,” she says. This sense of time and awareness has shown to be an effective form of treatment and a strong alternative to drug therapies.
According to Rosenberg, 53 national and international museums are now committed to developing programs that serve those with Alzheimer’s, in part due to MoMA’s outreach efforts.
Holistic approaches like Hearthstone’s Healing Gardens and MoMA’s Meet Me program do not view Alzheimer’s as a disability, nor do they limit it to an issue of memory. By seeking opportunities to connect with and engage patients on an emotional level, they have employed effective, non-pharmacological ways to combat symptoms.
As Zeisel says, “We’re learning so much today about what people can do that it’s not even treatment, it’s really giving them back their life.” Looking beyond Alzheimer’s as a disease has proven to be an essential step in treating and, just as importantly, understanding it.
Exercise Your Mind
There’s not yet a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but you can take preventative measures to give your brain a boost, which might help lower your risk of the disease.
Exercise Your Mind with Puzzles
Cognitive activities like memory games and crossword puzzles, particularly when done in combination with physical exercises, have been shown to lower the risk of Alzheimer’s.
Keep Busy: Make Plans and Set Goals
There’s no set formula for who develops memory loss and who doesn’t. But those who continue to challenge themselves and learn new things have been able to slow down memory loss later in life.
Maintain a Healthy Heart
The link between heart disease and Alzheimer’s is growing, so exercise your body as well as your mind and diversify your routine. Swimming, stationary cycling and brisk walking offer low impact, high intensity workouts.
Visiting a Museum with an Alzheimer’s Patient
If you’re considering taking a friend or relative with Alzheimer’s to an art museum, these tips from MoMA should help you create an engaging environment:
- Look for a quiet area within the museum to limit distractions.
- Avoid works that are too large or those with many complicated elements.
- Begin by observing and describing the artwork. What do you see?
- Move onto interpretation. What does it mean?
- Evaluate the work. Share personal opinions. Does it bring up any memories?
-
iso nevski
-
tina Angelou
-
Susan Henry
-
Cristina Varona-Voirin RN
-
Robin Maldonado
-
Ann
-
Renee Crow
-
Shari Lynn Evans
-
Richard Taylor
-
Patricia
-
bharat b lal
-
Daniel Pompilio
-
SDonald
-
Raquel
-
Eadie Anelli
-
June Myers
-
Linda C Doery
-
SHIRLEY ALMEIDA
-
Gloria J. Grenga
