Art in the Face of Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s is a devastating disease that can take even the strongest minds.

My grandfather unfortunately has this disease.

I’ve watched as a man who was witty, intelligent, and kind weaken slowly over time. Now he forgets who I am and who his kids are. He forgets how to do basic tasks and he’s developed deep paranoia. We’ve tried many things in desperation to calm his deteriorating mind. We put him in front of the tv, but he can’t follow what’s going on. We tried crosswords since he did them in the news paper in years past. He wasn’t comprehending. He doesn’t even read his bible anymore. Still as a devout Christian, he always tunes in to the televised church services on Sunday. These services always had a musical performance. I noticed how much calmer he was during these performances. He even did little dances with his feet.

Music reached him in ways other activities—even those he’d previously enjoyed—could not. Taking this approach, we gave him water color paintings and fun artistic puzzles. They all worked in bringing him some peace of mind. Giving him a creative outlet proved to be the most effective in providing him with some tranquility and us with a glimpse of the man we all love.

This is why art is important in healing , and why organizations like HMF are essential to bridging the gap between art and healthcare.

- Gianna DiCola