Artistic Expression for Alzheimer’s Patients

On Wednesday mornings the art therapy group at the Irene Swindells Center for Adult Day Services is hard at work. Art therapy is one of the many services and activities the Swindells Center offers its Alzheimer’s clients.

Cognitively stimulating, art therapy keeps patients active and provides a special outlet for individuals who have difficulty expressing their thoughts verbally. Thoughts, feelings and experiences can be communicated simultaneously through visual expression.

The Swindells Center, in collaboration with Center for Elders and Youth in the Arts (CEYA), engages clients in art activities with an eclectic mix of mediums ranging from color pencils to Chinese ink. Sessions conclude with each artist discussing his/her work and participants offering their impressions of each piece. Communicating this way helps to break through feelings of isolation, encourages verbal expression and contributes to an individual’s sense of dignity.

For more information on this group and other programs offered by Irene Swindells Center for Adult Day Services, please contact Martin Singer at 415-600-2693 or visit us online at www.cpmc.org/services/senior.