CREATIVE THERAPIES PROMOTE HEALING AND LAUGHTER.

by, Stuart Greenbaum

CREATIVE THERAPIES PROMOTE HEALING AND LAUGHTER. Your funny bone might just be the only sore body part to result from Eskaton’s newest rehabilitative therapy. It’s laughable but true. Humor therapy is among an expanding schedule of innovative therapies Eskaton offers to some or all residents in its independent, assisted, skilled nursing and memory care communities. All of which are intended to complement the primary occupational, physical and speech therapies provided by Eskaton Care Centers and Home Healthcare.

“Our goal is to provide therapies that are both effective and engaging,” explains Jane Rupp, a quality and compliance nurse with Eskaton. “Enthusiasm definitely motivates participants and helps with the healing process.”

The cornucopia of activity — designed to rehabilitate and rejuvenate — borrows bits and pieces from everything from reality TV to life-long learning to petting zoos. There truly is something for everyone:

Music therapy, an especially popular and effective program with dementia sufferers, an example of which recently became a YouTube sensation of sorts, uniquely engages otherwise unresponsive individuals as well as generally enthuses participants. Similarly “therapeutic music” has a soothing effect on residents in skilled nursing and memory care, as well as hospice patients. “They should write a prescription for your music,” commented one appreciative resident to the guest harpist, “because when you play for me, my pain goes away.” Another patient, who wascompletely non-verbal, started singing along to the harpist’s rendition of “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” and thanked her afterwards for the beautiful music.

Art therapy uses in-house demonstrations and museum visits to inspire creativity with memory care residents. Eskaton partners with ARTZ: Artists for Alzheimer’s on this new concept.

Pet therapy, popular within many Eskaton communities, brings a virtual zoo of sensory stimulations to residents who can look, touch, smell and hold a wide variety of furry and feathered creatures.

Humor therapy and laughing yoga, led by a certified laugh instructor, cheerfully exercises the mind and body with a variety “cowboy,” “aloha” and other laughs — each with their own movements and sounds.

“Beats and Rhythm” therapy uses bells, egg shakers, tambourines and maracas to engage memory-impaired individuals. Rhythm therapy also encourages adult healthcare residents to play instruments, sing and dance. One particular dance therapy program involves individuals with Parkinson’s disease.

Chair yoga focuses on stretching, deep breathing exercises and hand massages.

Chair zumba promotes cognitive and physical fitness with memory care residents.

Tai Chi chair therapy helps heal sore muscles and even promotes healthier sleeping.

Adaptive gardening and horticulture therapy offers a trifecta of benefits — community beautification, gardens of healthy eats and purposeful living.

Galactic therapy encourages “big-picture” philosophical discussions among residents.

Cooking therapy with a resident as “celebrity chef” introduces a new recipe each session.

“Monday Motivators” is an open communication and self-awareness forum.

“Guided Autobiography” offers both creative and reminiscence therapeutic value.

Storytelling therapy encourages positive social and cognitive skills.

Coloring therapy promotes creativity and conversation, along with a calming effect for memory care residents.

“Lasting Memories” uses teen volunteers to help memory care residents with scrapbooking projects.

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