Art therapy as one of the therapeutic methods uses many art techniques: collage, drawing, artistic craft, painting, sculpture, and others. This form of therapy should be a spontaneous creative process. The participants do not need to have any experience or artistic skills. The aim of this method is to maintain or improve the physical form, the mental and emotional state of the elderly.
Main functions of art therapy
Corrective function – the art helps to regain mental equilibrium, reduce frustrations, depression, or anxiety. It can help replace negative attitudes with positive ones. It can also level out aggressive behavior.
Educational function – by enriching the human emotional world, art forms the intellect and deepens the emotional content of life.
Entertainment function – art is used for entertainment. It enables the free expression of personality and gives life more dynamism. They can paint the best celebrity style to be entertained.
In your everyday work, you can use the elements of art therapy as one of the forms of varied design in everyday life for those in need of care.
Examples of occupations
Embroidery project – you need: colored or felt-tip pens and a piece of squared paper.
Picture on the kitchen board – you can vary the time during the meal preparation. Let the seniors develop their creativity. It’s a lot of fun and challenges the seniors.
Drawing – this type of activity is very desirable among seniors. This improves the mobility of the hands and relieves tension.
Painting – create suitable conditions for him. Prepare a room for him at home that can be easily cleaned by wiping the paint off the floor. It is better if the senior uses watercolors and paints on a cardboard box. You can currently buy ready-made coloring books that also work against stress.
Paper cutouts – this form of art therapy is extremely simple and effective. It is also an excellent form of spending free time. You will need colorful paper cutouts, glue, scissors, white paper, or other materials that you want to use. The patient’s use of color has a very important therapeutic effect. The color reflects the mood of the patient and expresses their expression. It relieves him of stress.
The senior’s work is not about creating a great work of art. The point is that he expresses his emotions, has fun with them and that he preserves his manual and intellectual capabilities.
