A growing movement toward enriching the lives of people with Alzheimer’s is taking place among major arts establishments throughout the country. Organizations, such as the Lookingglass Theatre Company in Chicago, and the Rubin Museum of Art in New York, are actively seeking ways to demonstrate that the arts can enrich the lives of people with Alzheimer’s. By doing so, they are showing the world people with Alzheimer’s disease are “still here.”

In his book, “I’m Still Here,” John Zeisel, PhD, writes at length about how the arts and arts therapy benefit people with Alzheimer’s, also suggesting that caregivers and others may benefit from the insights that those with Alzheimer’s can offer. Individuals with Alzheimer’s have a different type of memory and a unique view of the world. fresh perspectives

Alzheimer’s and art therapy: gaining national attention

Many local communities have people who are passionately involved with bringing together the arts and people with Alzheimer’s disease. Crafts, sculpture and painting programs have long been part of the activities provided by good assisted living facilities and nursing homes. Local theater and fine arts groups often invite the participation of elders, whatever their needs.

However, it is the large museums and well-known theatrical groups that make news. When an institution such as the Rubin Museum launches a program [Mindful Connections] for visitors with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers, we know progress is being made.

Alzheimer’s and “mindful connections”: good for us all

Mindful Connections provides individuals with Alzheimer’s or dementia with the opportunity to interact with and explore the various works of art at the Rubin Museum. The program offers both “multisensory experiences” and “discussions” that encourage participants to “connect with works of art and each other with the assistance of experienced museum educators.”

Mindfulness is a popular buzzword with deep historical roots evolving from far eastern cultures. In our busy western world, we tend to rush from place to place, project to project, often without fully connecting with anything we are doing, so we are encouraged to make changes and go through our day mindfully.

Since people with Alzheimer’s generally can’t form new memory connections, they “live in the moment” in a way that most of us don’t. What they experience in the here and now may not be stored as a memory, but they experience it fully as they live it. They are connecting mindfully.

Projects like these museum tours reflect the growing body of knowledge about people with Alzheimer’s and what they can still contribute to the world.

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Tags: Alzheimer’s, Art therapy, Dementia