Overcoming Obstacles Through Art Therapy in Home Care
Home Care isn't just about helping with personal and medical services; it's about improving independence, confidence and a sense of self. Come on in and let’s talk about Roger
After Suffering a Stroke, Roger Lost his Dexterity and Confidence
Roger had a successful career as a Mechanical Engineering Draftsman, designing ships for the Royal Navy. During his early training, he was taught to spot the smallest of mistakes and ensure every detail was accurate. So, when he lost his dexterity after a stroke in 2005, he assumed it would rule out his beloved drawing—or would it?
The stroke that Roger suffered left him with significant right-sided weakness, mainly affecting his dominant right hand. Because of this, he had to retire earlier than expected.
He had hoped that retirement would allow him to pursue his second passion, golf. Unfortunately, golf soon became too challenging for him, and he had to give it up. As a result, his confidence and mental health took a serious knock.
Roger's Wife Prompts Him to Try Art as Therapy
Rogers’s wife Nuala wondered if Roger should try some more casual art in the afternoons. Painting and drawing had been a calming hobby outside of work when he had the time. Roger agreed to try it and found that it helped calm him and give him a focus again—a sort of therapy if you like.
Creative therapies, particularly art,have long been regarded as helping the emotional, social, and psychological factors essential for a person’s well-being and development, including needs for safety, belonging, esteem, and self-actualisation.
For Roger, something else happened. Along with feeling a great sense of mental wellness, he learned to develop new muscle memory and adapt to the new sensations and feelings in his right hand as he worked. And this progressed over time.
Nuala remembers that at first, Rogers’s colour choices were very pale as he was conscious of making mistakes and showing errors. Still, with time and encouragement from family and Rogers’s visiting care professionals, he gained more and more confidence to experiment with colour depth and designs. Roger quickly started shopping for new art books and pens and now has quite a collection!
Home Care Helps Roger Find Wellness in His Continued Art Practice
Most afternoons, you’ll find Roger creating new artwork to show his care professionals. They often go through his art books together to choose new designs for him to try.
Roger is happier. He has returned to something he loves, something that has been a significant part of his life. He could not have done that, first, without his wife Nuala and second, without the encouragement of his Home Instead Care Pros.
At Home Instead, we get to know the person behind the health conditions and focus on what they can do. We love celebrating our unique and talented clients and will forever work to bring out the best in them.
