What Do Your Loved One’s Feelings Look Like?

For some elderly loved ones, describing how they’re feeling is almost impossible. They may have some anger, frustration, and fear all blending together into one big mass. Trying some art projects together can help you to figure out what your loved one is feeling and how you can help her the best.

Elderly Care in Hampton Bays NY: Senior Feelings

Find a Medium She Likes

Your elderly loved one is likely to have some preferences about the types of art she enjoys creating. Perhaps she’s skilled at drawing or painting. Or perhaps your loved one isn’t skilled, per se, but she has a love for feeling the paint against her fingers, so finger painting becomes her medium of choice. You might have to experiment a bit to find just the right combination for her.

Ask Her Some Prompting Questions

If you’re trying to get to a specific result, you might want to help your elderly loved one get started with some prompts. Asking her questions such as, “What does your anxiety look like?” or “What does it look like when you feel angry or frustrated?” can help her to begin. She may need additional prompts or she might be able to take off running, so be prepared either way.

Interpreting Her Art

In some cases, your elderly loved one may be able to walk you through her art. Having made the piece can help your loved one to find the words that she needs to express to you how she’s feeling. If your loved one has difficulty speaking, you might still have trouble interpreting the piece. You can try asking your loved one yes and no questions.

Continuing on with Art Therapy

If your loved one is experiencing benefits from these initial forays into art therapy, it’s worth it to find a certified art therapist to work with her. There are usually also group art therapy sessions which your elderly loved one might enjoy. Again, experimenting a bit can help you to find the right fit for your loved one.

Look for other ways to use art to help your elderly loved one express herself as fully as possible.

If you or an aging loved one is considering elderly care in Hampton Bays, NY, call the caring staff at Artful Home Care today at 631-685-5001.