Artistic therapies in care: healing moments for body and soul

Artistic therapies open up new ways of caring for people with Dementia and other impairments. They are more than just creative activities - they are a bridge to memories, feelings and encounters that are often lost in everyday care. Whether painting together, singing or gently moving to music: artistic therapies address levels that words sometimes cannot reach. They enable closeness, promote mental balance and bring lightness to moments that are otherwise characterized by illness and helplessness.

This form of therapy can act like a window, especially for people with dementia or chronic illnesses - to an inner space that is still there despite forgetting and change. For family caregivers, this means: new opportunities for communication, less stress and often a valuable moment of togetherness.
In this post we show you how artistic therapies in care, for whom they are suitable and how you can integrate them into your everyday care routine - without any previous knowledge, but with a lot of heart.

What are artistic therapies?

Artistic therapies - sometimes also referred to as creative therapies - are therapeutic procedures in which artistic forms of expression are used specifically to support people emotionally, cognitively and physically. They are based on the idea that art is more than mere occupation - it can heal, soothe, connect and even bring back memories that were thought to be lost.

Expression where words fail

In the care sector in particular, we often encounter people who can hardly communicate verbally: be it due to a progressive dementia, by psychological stress such as Depression or by neurological diseases such as Parkinson or Consequences of stroke. Artistic therapies create a valuable approach here - via images, sounds, movements or words that are not spoken, but felt and shaped.

The following forms are among the most common types of artistic therapy in nursing:

Why are these methods so effective?

Artistic therapies activate the brain in a holistic way. They address emotional, sensory and cognitive areas simultaneously. Studies show: Particularly in people with dementia, the areas in the brain responsible for aesthetic perception and creativity remain active for a long time - even when language or orientation are already severely impaired【source: German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases】.

Case study: Music therapy for dementia

In a care project in Lower Austria, weekly music therapy was offered to a small group of senior citizens suffering from dementia. After just four weeks, several participants showed a noticeable change: more eye contact, more frequent smiles, calmer nights. One relative reports: "My mother is now humming old songs to herself again - she hasn't done that for years."

Voices from the field

"When words fail, art speaks," says Elisabeth R., a nurse with further training in art therapy. "Especially in difficult situations, it helps to create closeness - without pressure and without big words."

The care expert Thomas M., who works in a retirement home in Linz, also emphasizes: "A shared song can do more than a lot of medication. It connects - even when everything else seems forgotten."

Connection and trust in everyday care

For family caregivers, artistic therapies offer a gentle way to stay in touch - by painting a picture together, a familiar song from childhood or simple rhythmic movements that help to calm them down. A space is created in which no perfection, but encounter and emotion are in the foreground.

These methods not only promote the well-being of the person in need of care, but also relieve you as a family caregiver. They can help to overcome frustration, communication barriers and emotional distance - especially when words are no longer enough.

How do artistic therapies affect your health?

Artistic therapies touch more than just the surface - they go deep. For many people who receive or provide care, they are a way back to themselves: away from pure functional mode and towards more joie de vivre, expression and inner peace. And this is exactly what can positively change your everyday care routine - for you and for the person you are caring for.

Relaxation and stress relief - breathe deeply in the here and now

Do you know the feeling of being completely immersed in an activity? When painting, playing music or singing, this is exactly what often happens: a state of complete concentration and serenity - also known as Flow state. At this moment, your body comes to rest, stress hormones such as cortisol fall and happiness hormones such as endorphins rise.

Studies show, that creative activities can noticeably alleviate chronic stress - especially in people who suffer from inner tension, sleep problems or exhaustion (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Musiktherapie).

Access to emotions - when words are missing

Sometimes it is difficult to put feelings into words. People with dementia, speech loss or mental illness often lack the ability to communicate verbally. But art knows many languages.

Whether by colors, sounds or movements - creative methods help to express wishes, memories or worries. And often something magical happens: a person in need of care who barely speaks starts humming when their favorite song comes on. A touch, a look, a smile - suddenly there is a connection where there was previously silence.

Promoting motor skills - small movements with a big effect

Shaping with clay, grabbing brushes or rhythmically clapping to the beat: All of this promotes your fine and gross motor skills. This can make everyday life easier, especially for older people or people with restricted mobility - for example when eating, getting dressed or with personal hygiene.

An example:

Mrs. Huber, 81, paints every Wednesday with her caregiver. At first, she held the brush hesitantly, but now she uses colors with purpose. Her hand movements have become more confident - and she says herself: "I feel a bit like I used to."

Experiencing community - creatively fighting loneliness

Care can be lonely - for the person being cared for, but also for you. In a creative group, you experience exchange at eye level. You hear: "I've been there", "I feel the same way". And suddenly you are no longer alone with your worries or your everyday life.

Whether in the music group, creative writing or painting together - these protected spaces give you strength, connection and new perspectives.

Relieve pain and sleep better - with music as medicine

Did you know that music even affects your heart rate? Calming sounds in particular lower muscle tone, promote deep breathing and help many people, to sleep better or dealing with pain.

According to a study by Warth et al. (2016), regularly applied music therapy shows a significant improvement in sleep quality as well as a reduction of pain symptoms - even in palliative care (source: SpringerLink).

If you are looking for a caregiver who brings creative methods to caregiving, you can find them on noracares exactly the right people - attentive, loving and personal.

Who are artistic therapies particularly suitable for?

Artistic therapies are much more than a nice pastime - they are a powerful tool for people in a wide variety of life situations. Especially in the care context, they open up new ways of communicating, emotional stabilization and health promotion. But who benefits the most from them?

Are there limits to artistic therapies?

As effective as creative methods can be, they are no substitute for medical treatment or professional psychotherapy. Artistic therapies are intended as a supplement, not as a promise of a cure.
It is important to listen carefully: What is good for the person? What might overwhelm them? Not every offer is suitable for every situation - and that's perfectly fine. Sometimes a look, a melody or simply being quiet together is enough.

People with dementia - access to memory and emotion

Just at Dementia can quickly reach the limits of traditional conversation. However, art therapy activates intact areas of the brain that are responsible for emotions and creativity. As a result, those affected are often able to express themselves through colors, music or movements - even if their speech and memory deteriorate.

Important to know: Creative stimuli can evoke memories, boost self-esteem and convey a sense of security and familiarity.

Senior:innen mit chronischen Erkrankungen - Lebensqualität im Alltag

Many older people live with chronic pain, limitations or loneliness. Creative work offers an important resource here: painting, creating music or movement positive experiences, promote self-awareness and give the day structure and meaning.

Artistic activity can also be integrated well in nursing homes or with home care - even in a seated position or with limited fine motor skills.

People with mental illness - expression without words

Who under Depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress often find new forms of expression in creative work. In particular music therapy, dance therapy or theater work help to release inner tension, deal with emotional blockages and boost self-confidence. Studies show that creative therapies can alleviate depressive symptoms, reduce anxiety and promote social integration.

Children and young people with behavioral problems - learning through art

Young people also benefit enormously from artistic methods. Children with behavioral problems, developmental delays or psychological stress experience new forms of learning, feeling and understanding through painting, singing or role-playing.

Art therapy can help young carers in particular, i.e. children and young people who care for relatives, to perceive their own needs, reduce stress and develop emotional stability.

Why nursing in particular?

Whether in 24-hour care, in a nursing home or at home: artistic therapies offer a low-threshold, gentle and at the same time deeply effective addition to traditional care. They can be customized, require no prior knowledge and are suitable for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Practical application in everyday family life

You don't have to be a therapist or an artist to bring creative care to life. Even as caregiver:r relative:r you Easily integrate artistic elements into everyday life - with small impulses that make a big difference.

Creativity begins at home - and needs little preparation

Often, just a few minutes a day are enough to make grooming a connecting, lively experience. It is not the result that is important, but the shared action, the feeling of being seen and heard.

Your options:

Creating art - with color, form and feeling

• Common Painting, drawing or crafting creates space for expression, especially when words are missing.
• You can compile old photos into a collage, make crafts with natural materials or use simple colouring cards..
• Finger paints or thick brushes are also suitable for people with limited fine motor skills.

Experiencing music - for heart and memory

• Play familiar Favourite songs, dance together while sitting down or use simple instruments such as rattles or tonewoods.
• Music has a calming and memory-enhancing effect, especially with dementia - even when other abilities are declining.
• Singing together can create emotional closeness and boost self-esteem.
   

Movement in rhythm - gentle and strengthening

• You can easy movement exercises to the music, e.g. swinging your arms, moving with your hands, moving with your feet, moving with your feet, moving with your hands, moving with your feet, moving with your feet. For example, swinging your arms, rocking your feet or developing small choreographies while seated.
• Pantomime movements or "dancing with scarves" also promote physical awareness and are fun.
   

Where can you find support?

You don't have to do this alone. There are many ways in which you can incorporate creative care into your everyday life in a practical and pressure-free way - with support that suits you:

• noracares platform: Here you will find loving caregivers who consciously incorporate creative elements into their care - without agency costs and entirely according to your ideas.
• Caritas & Volkshilfe: creative materials, discussions with relatives, care courses or training sessions with a focus on activation and mental well-being.
• IG Care & local initiatives: Exchange groups, online seminars and creative group offers that empower and inspire you.
• Support groups on site: space for honest exchange with other family caregivers - from practical tips to emotional support.

Creativity as the key to connection!Artistic therapies are not a luxury - they are a real opportunity. A chance to create closeness where words fail. A chance to experience joy where everyday life is often difficult. And a chance not only to give, but also to receive something in return as a family caregiver: Connection, lightness, shared moments. You don't need perfect knowledge or expensive material. What counts is your openness. Your time. Your heart.

If you want to experience care in a new way - more creative, more human, more touching - then give it a try. You'll be surprised how much healing there is in a brushstroke, a song or a smile.

• Artistic Therapy: A collective term for forms of therapy in which creative means of expression such as painting, music, dance or writing are used in a targeted manner.
• Dementia: A progressive disease of the brain that affects thinking, memory and behavior.
• Flow-state: A state of deep concentration in which an activity is perceived as particularly fulfilling and relaxing.
• Young Carers: Children or young people who regularly take on care or support tasks in the family.
• Fine and gross motor skills: Movement skills: Fine motor skills involve small movements (e.g. writing), gross motor skills involve large movements (e.g. walking, dancing).