Dementia patients generally find it hard to express themselves. Sitting down and having a conversation with someone is challenging, and what’s even more complicated is keeping their brain engaged in any activity.
That’s where art therapy comes in; it’s used as a relief therapy for dementia patients because it keeps their brainsstimulated and their memories awake. Being able to form a picture with a few brush strokes may seem normal to you, but it brings an unrivaled sense of achievement for patients with Alzheimer’s and similar conditions.
All that said,painting can prove hard if you don’t have enough skills . For dementia patients, it’ll be irritating to work their minds and get nothing in result. That’s why paint by number kits are the best and easiest way tostart art therapy . They’re easy to follow, but they still keep the brain stimulated.
Art Therapy for Dementia - Benefits
[amazon box="1646113926"]Paint by numbers kits are magical in a way. On the one hand, they’re easy to follow without putting much stress on your senses. On the other hand, they end up looking great if you follow the instructions, so you gain a sense of achievement without stressing much.
Let’s see whatpainting by numbers can do for dementia patients .
Art Therapy for Dementia - Brain Stimulation
Dementia patients need to keep their brains constantly engaged to avoid progressive declines. And, it’s not easy to engage a dementia patient because he’s likely old, so he’s not interested in most everyday activities.Art therapy stimulates the patients’ minds, keeping them engaged in a simple activity that doesn’t cause stress. Besides, it improvescognitive development, which delays the brain’s decline.
Better Memory
[amazon box="0071468277"]Painting by numbers includes looking at areference picture and redoing the artwork on the large print. The small act stimulates the patient’s memory, which may bring up past memories. While it won’t have a long-term effect, it’ll improve the short-term memory and keep the patient with a sense of joy.
Art Therapy for Dementia - Room for Creativity
Older people are mostly incapable of expressing their feelings or creativity. For dementia patients, it’s even more challenging because their memory isn’t helping them, and their brain is working against them.Letting thempaint gives them room for creativity . They’ll be free to add the colors they see fit, and they’ll be able to put their thoughts on the canvas.Painting lets them unleash their unexpressed thoughts, and it helps them develop a pattern of thinking, otherwise called cognitive development.
Improved Mood
Feeling lonely or bored has a direct effect on the body’s health, especially in older people with dementia conditions. Feeling down can cause the brain to go into a progressive decline, which is inevitable in diseases like Alzheimer’s.However,painting lifts the mood significantly and rids the body of stress. Feeling well and happy even for a short amount of time can make a massive difference for dementia patients.
Art Therapy for Dementia Patients - Best Paint by Number Kits
Paint by number kits for dementia patients need to be easy enough for them to follow, but they should give a good result to give them a sense of achievement. With these considerations in mind, we compiled thebest kits for art therapy .Paint by Numbers for Adults Beginner Mountain Landscape
[amazon box="B08YDD3YWV"]The beauty of this painting lies in its simplicity. It only features four or five colors, and they’re easily distinguishable by the eye. On top of that, no blending is required. Each area in thepainting is closed on its own without blending onto the other, making painting much more manageable.
Thepainting is also ideal for dementia patients because it leaves room for creativity. The mountain landscape is unrealistic, which means it can bepainted in any color the user prefers. If the patient has a complete acrylic set, he can unleash his creativity and use his owncolor combination .
The canvas is 16 x 20 inches, making it a perfect artwork to hang on the wall afterward.
Kimily DIY Paint by Numbers for Adults Kids Tulip Paint
[amazon box="B07N3RFQKC"]This kit from Kimily is incredibly soothing to look at. It features a bunch of tulips in a softrose color that blends seamlessly against the pale background. The painting is easy to follow because it doesn’t contain many objects. Yet, it’s breath-taking with its overall warm tone.
Like the MountainLandscape painting , this one leaves room for the user to use different colors. If the painter wants each flower in a different color, the painting will still look magical, giving him a chance to express his ideas on the canvas.
The canvas comes bearing mounting clips in case you want to hang it after it’s done.
Paint By Number Kits for Kids - Beautiful Flowers
[amazon box="B00LO20XVE"]The BeautifulFlowers painting is originally targeted at kids; that’s why it’d make for a great project for dementia patients. It’s easy to follow, and its colors are vibrant and clear. Painting it will keep the patient’s brain engaged and mood lifted, thanks to the cheerful flowers.
Thecanvas comes with three brushes in different sizes , along with anacrylic color set and mounting clips. If you’re buying it for someone who loves flowers, you can pair it with the Kimily Tulips canvas as a perfect gift.
iFymei Paint By Numbers for Kids & Adults & Beginner
[amazon box="B07PHLX149"]The iFymeipaint is pretty soothing to look at. Every detail in the canvas drives a feeling of contentment, starting from the relaxed cat lying on the flower’s stem without worry. Then, there are the three sunflowers that stand proudly facing the wind. The blue sky also adds a sense of calmness to the overall beautiful canvas.
Thepalette of the painting is refreshing, thanks to theunique mix of warm and cold colors . It’s also relatively easy to paint because there’s not much blending required. However, it’s more challenging than the previouspaintings , so it may serve as a nice gift for an old fellow who likes challenges.
Paint by Number Mountains DIY Paint by Numbers for Adults Beginner
[amazon box="B08R9Y1MHK"]Thispainting by Acerich features a mystical forest lined by mountains and topped off by a bright autumn moon. The alignment oftrees at the front also adds a sense of mystery to the painting , hiding the lake that’s peeking through the shadows.
The kit only has a couple of colors, with a large chunk of it being black, making it easy for dementia patients to follow. Its areas are also large in case the patient’s hands are shaky.
What makes it a great choice for people with dementia conditions is the ability to change its colors. It features purple mountains, so it’s not realistic per se. If the user wants to change any of its colors, he can do it seamlessly.
Art Therapy for Dementia Patients - Final Thoughts
Art therapy is one of the best natural ways to keep dementia from progressing. It helps the patients stimulate their brains and express their creativity. It also serves as entertainment for old fellows, which is a bonus.All the kits we listed are easy to follow, and they’re pretty enough to hang on the wall as artwork afterward.
CLICK HERE to browse our complete selection of high quality paint by numbers kits!