St. Barnabas Seniors Benefit Through Art Therapy

St. Barnabas celebrated its new art therapy program Thursday evening with “Art to Remember,” an art show that showcased residents’ art creations. From a wheelchair painting on canvas, self-portraits, shoebox marble art, photography, and a memory quilt, seniors told their stories through artistic expression.

“Art therapy can provide social connection, a feeling of control, and an opportunity to express and manage emotions,” said Ashley Brandon, St. Barnabas activities director.  Ms. Brandon, who has a bachelor’s degree in art therapy, said that creative art projects can       
offer hope and create meaning through life review.             

“Everyone’s an artist; everyone has something to express,” says Carrie Ezell, art therapist and activities assistant. Ms. Ezell, who has a master’s degree in art therapy and also directs art therapy groups throughout the Chattanooga area, is a Georgia native who returned from Santa Fe, New Mexico through an ArtsMove grant from Chattanooga’s CreateHere program. She encourages seniors to discover their artistic side through a variety of media, noting that art therapy decreases social isolation and offers connection and support. She points out that in group projects, older persons realize they still have something important to give in their interaction with others. Art therapy for seniors utilizes the creative process to engage frail older persons.

Therapeutic art interventions support the skills and assets many older persons still retain by providing a medium for expression. With art making, art therapists enable   The “seniors to make meaningful expressions of emotion despite deteriorating functional ability. An effective art therapy program may be delivered to seniors at home, in adult day care centers, or in senior care facilities. Regardless of venue, the elderly learn new ways to express and interpret life circumstances, to communicate perspectives, and to respond to the challenges of aging.

The art therapists at St. Barnabas are especially interested in activities with meaningful therapies, such as memory, tactile, and visual stimulation. They’re believers in art therapy’s ability to address the emotional needs of older adults, which can be inadvertently overlooked in the midst of their physical challenges.

Art therapy is grounded in human developmental and psychological theory and current research in the field, a blending of both therapeutic and creative processes. Art making helps older adults make meaning of their lives. Telling their own stories through the creative process allows older adults to share accumulated wisdom and leave a legacy, an assertive act of communication that can be felt, seen, and heard. And through their art creations, staff and family members can glimpse the essential personality beyond the physical limitations of older persons.

Research suggests creative activity can restore, maintain, improve mental and physical health, and increase energy levels. It can tap into deeply held emotions and help older adults cope with the challenges that aging brings. It is a non-pharmacological, non-medical intervention that can have a direct impact on the wellness of the elderly. Creative expression improves quality of life and is an important part of the healing mission of St. Barnabas.

St. Barnabas is Chattanooga’s only independent, not-for-profit continuing care retirement community, offering independent retirement apartments, assisted living, short-term rehabilitation therapy, and skilled nursing on two downtown campuses. For more information visit www.st-barnabas.com