Do you know someone, or have a loved one with dementia? If you do, you should consider visiting an art museum with them. And that is because there are numerous benefits to visiting art museums for people with dementia. Hence, read on to learn more about these benefits.
Promote Longevity
Did you know that visiting an art museum can promote longevity? That’s right. Researchers from the University College London discovered that mature adults who attended only one art exhibition each year had a 14% decreased risk of early mortality. What about if you visit art museums more often? The research found that those who went to art exhibits on a more regular basis had a 31% decreased chance of dying young. Essentially, this means that merely going to art museums can help those with dementia live longer.
A Great Way to Socialize
One common issue that dementia patients face is a lack of social life. After all, dementia can cause them to have increased anxiety, which can affect their social life. Thankfully, an art museum is a great solution to this worrying issue. Not only does an art museum have numerous art paintings, and events to talk about, but the people visiting will also have similar art interests, which can make socializing significantly easier. At the same time, an art museum can also be appreciated by looking and talking less. Hence, those with dementia will be able to socialize within their comfort zones, and when it gets too overwhelming, they have the chance to step back and simply enjoy the artwork before socializing again.
Unique Programs
While this only applies to certain art museums, some art museums have dedicated programs for those with dementia. For instance, The Museum of Photographic Arts in San Diego, California, provides two remarkable programming efforts for persons with memory loss. Not only are the people there staffed with sufficient knowledge to interact with those with dementia, but this means that those with dementia will feel accepted and not out of place, which can make the visit to the art museum an enjoyable visit. Hence, those with dementia can check out their nearby art museums if they have any unique programs that are suitable for them.
Dementia-Friendly Features
Another common worry among those with dementia is if the location they visit is suitable for them. Thankfully, most art museums are working towards being dementia-friendly. Be it having guided art museum tours or making use of artwork and other sensory input, these unique features can help stimulate long-term memory retention among those with dementia. Hence, with all these additional features, it will make the trip to an art museum much better for them.
Art Therapy
Visiting an art museum is a form of art therapy. By simply looking at the gallery of artworks, those with dementia will be exposed to intuitive graphical visual presentations that can allow them to feel more calm and relaxed. It is also a cheaper and more enjoyable alternative option compared to typical art therapy for many. Hence, those with dementia should visit an art museum.
