© Inna Reznik @123rf
color therapy
Do you remember the Irish legend about the leprechaun with a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? Even if we don’t find a pot of gold, rainbows can remind us to celebrate the mysteries and beauties of colors.
Color therapy can be beneficial for those with memory loss. Joshua J. Freitas, author of The Dementia Concept, recommends using different colors to provide contrast in spaces and to help distinguish different objects. For example, painting a door a color that contrasts with the wall makes the door easier to find. Putting colorful tape on the handles of walkers makes them easier to locate.
Some researchers suggest using the color pink to reduce combative behavior. The Pink Effect refers to the calming effect of exposure to large amounts of the color pink, helping to reduce feelings of aggression and anger.
If wandering is a concern, some therapists recommend placing black mats in front of doors or stairs since Alzheimer’s patients perceive them to be holes and thus tend to avoid walking on them. The color red promotes participation and stimulates appetite, and green and blue colors promote relaxation.
Colors are processed by our brains more quickly than words are. Let’s look at some colors and the responses associated with them:
RED is associated with strength and vitality. It is the most emotionally intense color. Red stimulates a faster heartbeat and faster breathing. If patients are not eating enough, using red plates may increase their appetites.
ORANGE is associated with sociability and happiness. Wearing orange may stimulate enthusiasm and creativity.
YELLOW speeds metabolism. Although yellow is usually considered a cheerful color, research shows that people lose their tempers more often in yellow rooms. So, if a patient exhibits aggression, it may be helpful to minimize exposure to yellow.
GREEN is a calming, tranquil color. It is closely associated with nature and is thought to evoke feelings of generosity and relaxation. Green is the easiest color on the eyes and can improve vision. Green is the last color dementia patients lose the ability to see; so green is a good color for caregivers to wear.
BLUE is the color of the sky and ocean and is universally the most popular color. Blue is associated with tranquility and creativity. It is a popular color for bedrooms since it causes the body to produce the calming hormone melatonin, resulting in more peaceful sleep --an aid for dementia patients as well as their caregivers.
PURPLE is the color of royalty. It is considered to be a spiritual color and is associated with mystery. Dementia patients may think of purple objects as sacred.
My mother was an art teacher who encouraged us to notice and appreciate the colors around us, thus adding special joy and beauty to our daily lives. The following list offers suggestions on ways we can enrich our lives with color:
- Spend time outdoors and focus on the colors of nature
- Decorate with colorful flowers
- Take time to observe paintings, photographs, and other colorful artwork
- Paint with bright colors, and use colored pencils for adult coloring books
- Look at colorful illustrations in books, magazines, etc.
- Create artistic meals with foods of various colors
- Incorporate a variety of colors in clothing and furnishings
- Slow down and take time to visually absorb the colors of the world around us