offer many ways for care partners to stay connected and creative.
This book presents imaginative activities that help you stay linked throughout the dementia journey. These ideas honor the creative spirit, reminding us we can all make a difference, one painting, one song, one smile, one shared experience at a time.
Creativity and Imagination Matter
Discover the Wonders in the Dementia Jungle
“All great changes are preceded by chaos.” —Deepak Chopra
“Excuse me Deborah, but you may not want to touch these trees,” Pablo, our guide, gently suggested.
We were slogging down a narrow, muddy, jungle path in the Ecuadorian rainforest, and I had grabbed onto a branch to steady myself. I glanced at the branch; my hand was surrounded by serious-looking black thorns. I wobbled as I plunged my hand into my pocket.
“Those thorns are poisonous,” Pablo said. “They can temporarily paralyze you. But you recover.”
I tucked my hand into my shirtsleeve so I wouldn’t be tempted to latch onto another tree. I wondered what I was doing, trekking around in such a chaotic and unknown environment, among paralyzing thorns, biting ants, and venomous snakes. Then I looked up at the towering canopy of lush leaves. I noticed a wild orchid shyly clinging to the thorn tree. Pablo pointed to the hollow in a nearby tree trunk, and I saw a baby night monkey peeking out, its large brown eyes inquisitive as a child’s. A scarlet macaw squawked by and a line of leaf cutter ants marched past my hiking boots, each boldly toting greenery twice its size. The poison thorns seemed a small price to pay for such an extraordinarily rich and vibrant experience.
The journey through dementia can be similar. My partner, Ron, and I trekked through the dementia jungle with three of our four parents. We tried hard to keep our parents stimulated and engaged. We had our thorny moments and we had deep moments of wonder. We learned the power of creativity and imagination.
We also learned that even when people can no longer drive to the grocery store or remember their grandchildren’s names, their lives can still be rich. In fact, because their reactions are sometimes less filtered and more honest, their creative powers are often heightened.
Creative Projects Jazz Up the Day and Light Up the Spirit
Too often, people living with dementia are entertained instead of engaged. Their lifelong activities are stripped away, and they have little to do. Research shows that artistic and imaginative activities reduce the need for psychotropic medications. With such engagement, people’s sense of well-being and purpose improves. Agitation and depression can diminish. Doing activities together increases social interactions, builds positive energy, and adds a sense of discovery to the day.
Research shows that artistic and imaginative activities reduce the need for psychotropic medications.
These creative activities benefit family and professional care partners as well. According to Sarah Zoutewelle-Morris, author of Chocolate Rain: 100 Ideas for a Creative Approach to Activities in Dementia Care, participating in projects allows a mutual exchange: You give to the person living with dementia, and she gives to you. Working or playing together lowers stress and can bring an increased sense of peace.
“The creative approach is a sincere belief in people’s potential, celebrating who they are, respecting them, and supporting their autonomy,” says Sarah. “Anything can be a meaningful activity. It’s all about helping people express themselves.”
The ideas and activities in this book will add joy and substance to your time with people who are living with dementia. As a bonus, these exercises are also a boost for you. Increasingly, studies show that painting, drawing, and other arts and crafts reduce the risk of cognitive impairment. Additional activities such as music, movement, gardening, and social interactions strengthen the body, brain, and spirit.
Increasingly, studies show that painting, drawing, and other arts and crafts reduce the risk of cognitive impairment. Additional activities such as music, movement, gardening, and social interactions strengthen the body, brain, and spirit.
“Creativity is contagious, pass it on.” —Albert Einstein
For years, I’ve been interviewing people who use creativity, imagination, and expressive therapies to connect with people living with dementia. These experts helped me translate their groundbreaking ideas into simple projects that family and professional care partners can use.
Here are a few sneak previews of the transformative benefits:
As usual, Henry is slumped silently in his wheelchair, eyes closed, hands listless in his lap. Dan Cohen puts the headphones on Henry and turns on the MP3 player, which is programmed with Henry’s favorite tunes from the 1940s. When the music starts, Henry suddenly raises his head and opens his eyes. He smiles, snaps his fingers, and taps his feet, echoing his old dance steps. Such responses to music fueled the international Music and Memory movement. Today, thousands of people living with dementia are waking up their creative spirits through music.
Nan often spent long hours playing solitaire with a well-worn deck of cards. But when her confusion increased, her dexterity diminished, and her eyesight dimmed, she could no longer handle the deck, and her daughter sadly put away the cards. Then her daughter bought a computer tablet boasting a touch screen. She showed her mother how to play solitaire by simply touching the desired card and moving it, on the screen, to the proper pile. Now they both enjoy huddling together and discussing strategies. The card game has become an important part of their weekly visit.
At first, Gary Glazner thinks everyone in the dayroom is asleep. The memory care residents are silently slumped in chairs and wheelchairs. But Gary is determined to share the verses he brought.
“I shot an arrow into the air,” he reads.
“And it came down, I know not where,” a man in a wheelchair replies. Even though his head is bowed and his eyes are closed,
