Art and Aging Presentation
What's Art Got To Do With It?
View sample slides of Dr. Bagan's hour-long presentation on Art and Aging. Click a title to view a slide.
For a complete presentation, and any other training programs at your facility, contact Dr. Bagan.
How art heals
- Initiates relaxation response
- Converts hormones to healing mode
- Increases blood flow
- Enhances immune system
- Releases endorphins & neurotransmitters
- Improves concentration
- Changes attitude from despair to hope
- Produces joy, peace
- Creates sense of transcendence
- Releases inner resources
- Taps into spirituality
Art Therapy, Art Therapists
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Art therapy is the use of making art under professional guidance, by people who experience illness, trauma, or challenges in living, and by people who seek personal development.
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Art therapists are professionals trained in both art and psychology or counseling.
Using Art Therapeutically
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Art as therapy is product-oriented; its goals are academic or aesthetic.
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Art in therapy is process oriented and person oriented; its goal is therapeutic.
Benefits of Art with Older Adults
- Encourages communication
- Provides creative experience
- Increases self-esteem
- Provides sensory stimulation
- Gives a sense of control
- Introduces playfulness
- Stimulates memories
- Focuses attention
- Offers opportunities for connecting belonging, and socializing
- Heightens interest; reduces boredom
- Aids conflict resolution
- Releases trapped emotions
- Promotes self-expression and self-discovery
- Creates a legacy
Practical Points
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Minimize distractions
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Assist as needed
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Encourage expression
Philosophical Points
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Treat adults as adults
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Childlike, not childish!
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Respect uniqueness
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Affirm the person, do not patronize
Positive Interactions with Dementia Patients (Tom Kitwood, 1997)
- Recognition
- Negotiation
- Collaboration
- Timalation
- Celebration
- Relaxation
- Play
Validation Therapy Techniques (Feil 1993)
- Use nonthreatening, concrete, simple words
- Speak in a low, clear, empathetic voice
- Rephrase unclear communication
- Respond to explicit and implicit meaning
- Mirror nonverbal and verbal communication