The Lasting Benefits of Art Therapy for Elderly

Art is a group of activities consisting visual, sound-effects and play-acting, expressing the person's innovativeness or specific ability, proposed to be admired for their excellence or emotional impact.  The delight you feel while indulging in artistic activities can be healing in itself. It's not difficult to indulge in activities of your interest which results in diminishing pressure and in this way beats dis-ease. The impacts of Art are much more significant. As indicated by the Psychologists and other Medical practitioners, the researchers have demonstrated that Art changes a person's state of mind, as well as their physiology. Art influences a person's neural framework, alongside the autonomic sensory system, hormonal balance, cerebrum neurotransmitters and bloodstream. Not to mention that benefits of Art Therapy for elderly are enjoying popularity like never before because of spiritual benefits.

Let's Discuss Benefits of Art Therapy for Elderly

Art has the power to change one's impression of the world. It impacts people's moods in a way. This is particularly true for elderly who experience loneliness, boredom, depression and other medical conditions. Art, in any form, allows people to vent their emotions and heal their minds. Old age is a fragile period where an outlet for self-expression is necessary. Cooking, sewing, weaving, origami, painting, cultivating, decorating, music, collecting vintage articles, verse composing, delivering speeches or shows- everything is an art. Therapeutic Art Activities for adults are gaining popularity for their healing benefits. In a way, it gives a sense of satisfaction which medicine is unable to do. There is a good reason why medical practitioners and psychologists recommend creative and therapeutic Art activities besides regular treatment.

Benefits of Art Therapy for Elderly are -

• Aiding socialization
• Diminishing fatigue
• Enhancing cognizance
• Enhancing confidence
• Helping people unwind
• Giving a feeling of control
• Offering tactile incitement
• Sustaining spiritual growth
• Diminishing tension
• Empowering fun loving nature and a humour
• Encouraging a more grounded feeling of personality

The Power of Therapeutic Art Activities for Adults

The body is made to heal itself, and it recovers best when in a condition of deep-felt relaxation. Art and music harmonise the body and mind. A significant number of us, while making, turn out to be absorbed to the point that we usually fall into that "altered" state. Creative and therapeutic activities help disclose the original personality of the elderly- the feeling that we are not yet prepared to confront deliberately or can't express. Art Therapy helps us unravel the subconscious thoughts at a pace we can deal with. In some cases, Art therapy is done with professional help.

A few people are happy with communicating their feelings verbally, while some aren't. Notwithstanding for the individuals who express verbally, the utilisation of Art frequently prompts a more profound display of their feelings. Here and there, words constrain us. Now and then we experience feelings that we have not verbalised or discovered words for. Often, we intuitively obstruct the outflow our insecurities and fears for the fear that it will overpower us. Utilising Art is an approach to reach those emotions, little by little; to express them somehow and to give it a voice. When we visualise our thoughts through our work of art, at that point, we can start to comprehend them, and our relationship with own self-changes. Benefits of Art Therapy for Elderly are something which should not be overlooked.

Some Art-based Treatment You May Attempt:

1. Visual Art - Drawing, painting, pastels, earth, photography, compositions (finding lost articles, creating a pictures from magazines, craftsmanship materials, and so forth.)
2. Performance Art - Acting, singing, movement, spontaneous creation, stand-up drama and playing an instrument.
3. Writing - Expositions, short stories, monologues, verse, music, plays and letters
4. Journalism - Either words or photography (or both)
5. Meditation - Through illustration, painting and letters.

So How can Elderly use Art as Healing Therapy?

• To begin with, make the time and space for it (this might be the greatest challenge in the hustle and bustle that surrounds us). In case you are already occupied with a healing procedure, try to fit it your current schedule. You can also incorporate Art therapy into your daily or weekly plan, similarly as you would work out.
• Pick a medium that feels good to you, that enables you to express freely. Concentrate on a physical or intense subject matter you need to think upon or make an inquiry, and after that let your thoughts flow freely. Try not to stress yourself about making your artistic piece 'perfect'.  It's more important to give yourself the flexibility to express what's inside you.
• If you end up in physical or emotional pain, don't give the strains a chance to develop. Utilise your preferred work of art and express your sentiments, and release the emotions. Give Art a chance to heal you. Utilise it all the time as a  "preventive medication." It might sound excessively straightforward but it does work.

A Note to the Reader

While we have come to think about art as a type of leisure activity, and even as an individual interest, a significant number of us have long overlooked that Art likewise offers us chances to recuperate and rejuvenate our mind and soul. Most of us are familiar with art as drawing or sketching activities which were a prominent part of our childhood. As we grew up, the need to conform to norms overtook our creative streak. Somewhere down the line, we lost track of the satisfaction which artistic activities gave us. Suddenly, engaging in artistry became a waste of time and art was sidelined. It is important to realise the healing benefits of Art therapy for elderly as it will make their old-age years golden. Strong scientific evidences support our belief that Art is happiness and happiness is something luxury can't buy.