Leaving aside questions about effectiveness, the discussion so far highlights five good reasons to support the arts for people with dementia:
- People with dementia usually enjoy participating in art, whether actively creating art or as an appreciative audience.
- The arts can remain accessible despite memory loss because of their multi-sensory nature and the possibility of experiencing art in the moment irrespective of prior knowledge or associations.
- Carers—both professional and family supporters—get double benefit from arts interventions; their own enjoyment as participants, and that of seeing their charges enlivened or soothed.
- The wider community benefits from the fostering of cultural capital in any segment of society, including older people with dementia.
- Art does little harm, indeed it often fosters social interaction and a sense of belonging.
Full article here: The Arts as a Medium for Care and Self-Care in Dementia: Arguments and Evidence – PMC (nih.gov)