Art Therapy Benefits for the Older Adults

The Art Therapist’s role in Australia’s aging population is to create a bridge between the medical and psychological worlds to treat older individuals holistically. In doing so, there is a need to be flexible because there are many limitations affecting this population. The most onerous limitations are the other physical health problems that clients tend to have and, hence, may find it difficult to attend clinics, or they may have to cancel appointments to attend other medical appointments. Other limitations may be the loss of their identity, cognitive impairments, as well as grief.

Art Therapy has provided us with insights of how it can help individuals to navigate the challenges of growing old in an aging era and how it can act as a preventative measure against long term ailments pertaining to mental care. Art therapy can also play an important role in supporting the recovery or slowing down the effects of dementia for individuals and supporting the mental well-being of those who are entering this phase of life. Recent studies and reviews have explored how creative expression through art can be a therapeutic tool for improving the quality of life for this population, particularly those dealing with cognitive decline, depression, anxiety, and social isolation.

Through various forms of creative expression such as painting, drawing, sculpture, and other visual arts, art therapy helps improve mental, emotional, and physical well-being. It is particularly beneficial for elderly as it provides a means to engage their minds, express emotions, and address issues such as memory loss, isolation, anxiety, and depression.

Memory and Cognitive Functions

Art therapy helps individual to express their inner feelings through metaphors and the activities which involve using artistic media prevent or slow down cognitive impairment. The cognitive function (especially) for dementia patients declines progressively, but timely and effective interventions can delay further deterioration with this disease.

A study found that art therapy interventions improved cognitive function in elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Those with MCI are unfortunately a particularly vulnerable “at-risk” group and almost half will deteriorate to dementia at a higher rate than those who are cognitively normal. In the study, participants demonstrated better memory retention and more engagement in activities following art therapy sessions, highlighting the potential benefits for individuals facing cognitive decline. It appears that visual art can stimulate memories in individuals, particularly when they are encouraged to draw or paint familiar objects or people. It helps individuals to recall past memories, thereby supporting their emotional well-being and connection to the present moment.

During the study, the art therapy was delivered by the trained therapists as “art as therapy” and “art psychotherapy” may have also been the significant contributor to cognitive improvements.

Most art therapy interventions have targeted psychiatric outcomes, such as depression and anxiety but it can also be used to enhance cognitive functioning using the process of art production and evaluation components sharing. The process of expression through art media and the products created in an art therapy session are perceived predominantly through the tactile-haptic and visual sensory and perceptual channels and then are processed for their affect, associations, and meaning through cognitive and verbal channels. These activities involve different motor, somatosensory, visual, emotional, and cognitive aspects of information processing with the activation of the corresponding neurophysiological processes and brain structures. Art therapy can therefore be a means of expression for individuals with dementia, allowing them to communicate feelings and experiences they are struggling with through language and recalling some of the memories. With the long-term cognitive stimulation and engagement from multiple sessions of art therapy, art therapy could lead to enhanced cognitive functioning. There are four main areas which stand out when considering art therapy with regard to basic brain functions and structures:

1. Brain functions and areas are specialised for distinctive tasks at different levels of complexity. Most of the perceptual stimuli are processed in parallel and unconsciously; part of the processing is guided by cognition through selective attention.
2. Brain structures provide alternate paths for accessing and processing visual and motor information and memories. Art therapy is uniquely equipped to take advantage of these alternate paths and activate them through the use of various art media in therapy.
3. Art therapy offers the possibility to emphasise selectively different aspects of visual information processing.
4. Art therapy offers the possibility to deal with basic sensory building blocks in the processing of information and emotions. The most elementary expressive forms may reflect the underlying brain structures.

In some studies (Ball, Helmers, Jobe, Leveck, & Marsiske, 2013; Wilson & Bennett, 2003), it strongly supports the idea that cognitive environmental stimulation is important for the enhancement and maintenance of cognitive functioning, even in old age. Mental activities can alter the structure of the brain by increasing cerebral blood flow, and it is possible to support the improvement of cognitive performance even in old age.

Emotional and Psychological Health

It has been shown that most of the patients with dementia manifest restlessness, anger, depression, anxiety, sadness and other behavioural and psychological symptoms as the disease progresses, resulting in reduced quality of life and an exacerbated burden for caregivers. Art therapy appears to be a valuable tool in managing and alleviating symptoms of depression and negative emotions. It combines creative expression with therapeutic techniques to support emotional and psychological well-being.

Elderly patients especially those with dementia have impaired language abilities are often unable to verbalise their thinking and express their feelings. And as the disease progresses, the patients’ capabilities of daily living and cognition gradually decline, and this language impairment makes it very challenging for them to vent their negative emotions, thus leaving them prone to behavioural and psychological symptoms such as anxiety, depression, etc., and leading to a reduced quality of life. However, they still retain basic visual and motor skills, which allow them to express their thoughts and emotions through lines, shapes and colours in art appreciation and creative activities.

A study which addressed the impact of Art Therapy involving older Korean – Americans, indicated that there was a marked improvement in self-esteem, improved mood, and reduction in their anxiety levels (Kim, 2010).

Likewise, a meta-analysis study conducted by Masika, Yu, and Li (2020) reported that visual art therapy was linked with improved cognitive function, and reduction in the participants’ depression and anxiety levels.

Art Therapy has also been known to reduce stress, give clarity, reduce pain, and improve blood flow (during times of creativity) and improve dexterity in older clients and might even enhance brain function. Neurological research shows that making art can improve cognitive functions by producing both new neural pathways and thicker stronger dendrites.

Creativity is about pushing beyond your limits; the courage to try something new. There are four steps that could start the creative process:

1. Preparation-gathering materials and producing an idea.
2. Incubation-becoming absorbed in the art process.
3. Illumination-achieving an outcome or having an “ah” moment.
4. Verification-making changes, and adding the final changes (Malchiodi, 2007).

Art enables humans to achieve creativity and for new neurological connections in the human brain.

The brain is an amazing organ, which continues to change, and we learn better ways to help us cope with diversity, personal struggles and explore our desires and unconsciousness. Art Therapy is by no means considered to be an “old therapy”; however, the use of art has played a huge part in the making of our society. Art therapy will continue to grow and become more prominent around the world, and it will give people a voice to express who they are and what they need to do to overcome an obstacle in their life.

Physical Benefits

Art therapy can help older adults to improve their motor skills, especially in activities that require precision and coordination, such as drawing, painting, and sculpting. The creation of art stimulates the temporal lobe, which affects object recognition and accurate expression using language, and the parietal lobe, which perceives the spatial position of objects and controls fine motor functions of the hand. It provides an effective way to train patients in the capacities of language and fine motor movement of the hand and it also improve the ability to synchronize visual input with motor output, a benefit for people of all ages, particularly older adults. Continuing therapy sessions will enhance the individual’s independence in daily tasks, especially for those who suffer from cognitive impairment, e.g. washing dishes, brushing teeth, bathing, eating, etc.

In addition, activities like moulding clay or large-scale painting encourage movement and physical engagement. These activities usually involve a wider range of motions, movements and strength over time and it is particularly useful for individuals with arthritis or other conditions limiting joint flexibility.

Art therapy contributes not only to the emotional components of healthy aging but also to its

physiological components by increasing cerebral blood flow in the brain and developing new

connections in synapses with neurotransmitter communication. Art therapy stimulates both the right and left brain hemispheres and promotes better health.

Dealing with Stress

As individuals progress into old age, stress is evident when dealing with health challenges, growing dependence on daily tasks, escalating medical costs, loss of loved ones, etc. Unmanaged anxiety and stress can have devastating consequences for individuals with declining cognitive impairment. Stress can elevate blood pressure and increase cardiovascular disease risk, further deteriorating health.

Engaging in creative activities appears to lower physiological stress for many, and many individuals have indicated that doing art therapy is very therapeutic and relaxing. These creative activities temporarily remove or distract them from their negative thoughts and emotions, creating space for them to breathe and clear their mind to move on. It also encourages mindfulness, bringing focus to the present moment and away from stressors, it elevates the mood and decreases the feelings of depression. Group activities also create social connections and reduce the feeling of isolation, which is often the cause of rumination.

Social Engagement

Art therapy in group settings can provide opportunities for socialisation and reduce the feelings of loneliness and isolation often experienced by elderly individuals, particularly those in long-term nursing care.

Meeting new people can be challenging for individuals living alone due to feelings such as shyness or fear. In art therapy, discussion and art-making with group members offers a chance for individuals to express their own ideas and feelings via both image and language and provide a supportive environment to share these feelings and concerns with others, including the therapist. Through this process, communication—not only between the group members and the therapist but also within one’s own self—is promoted in order to achieve self-awareness and integration. 

Pain Management

People experiencing chronic pain usually present a multitude of overlapping issues, including disorders such as anxiety, depression, heightened anger, fatigue and sleep disorders, reduced mobility and/or disability, loss of social role, social isolation, and overuse of medication. All of these lead to a subsequent decrease in quality of life. Poorly managed pain not only increases physical stress but it also compromises healing.

Mind-body intervention is one aspect of a broad, holistic approach toward health and care, and it aims to promote overall health by focusing on interactions between the brain, body, mind, emotion, and behaviour. Art therapy is one of the approaches, and it appears to be an effective, non-pharmacological option for pain management that helps individuals process, express, and reduce their pain. By engaging in creative activities such as painting, drawing, sculpting, or other art forms, people can address the physical, emotional, and psychological aspects of pain. It serves as a distraction from pain and any discomfort but not from within, that said, it provides momentary relief and a sense of control over the body.

Art Therapy for Healthy Aging

Creating a work of art provides the client with a vehicle for self-expression, communication, and growth. Art making as part of an art therapy intervention promotes continuous dopaminergic stimulations in the brain of the art maker, who can perceive more emotional experiences during creation. Therefore, art therapy sessions can be designed for and applied to the older population by targeting the sharpening of cognitive skills to prevent brain aging, the stimulation of senses to promote creativity, the cultivation of positive attitudes to improve self-esteem and the elimination of negative emotions to promote emotional well-being. These factors all contribute to the promotion of better health for older individuals.

Art creation is one of the most powerful ways to process complex emotions and express one’s inner feelings. It contributes to mental development and social interaction that leads to the promotion of overall well-being as well as slowing down the symptoms of associated aging ailments. Apart from all the research and studies that support art therapy’s benefits, it requires individuals’ patience, willingness, and resilience to partake in this therapy and make it happen for them. An art therapist plays a vital role in encouraging and motivating individuals to engage in some of the more challenging processes, allowing them to experience a sense of fulfilment and emotional relief after the session. Healthy aging is now more about mental health, which we all need to protect and maintain as we age.