As a kid, you might have picked up a coloring book on a rainy day or when your parents needed you to occupy yourself quietly. As an adult, maybe you still enjoy coloring or doodling when you need to unwind.
Adult coloring, touted as an approach to self-care and potential relaxation technique, has become something of a trend in recent years. Perhaps you’ve even come across adult coloring books featuring everything from mandalas and detailed scenery to tapestries of obscenities.
If you find the act of coloring soothing, it may not surprise you much to learn that coloring could be more than just a fun way to pass some time.
Discover the surprising benefits of coloring for older adults, from improving cognitive function to enhancing mental health and promoting social engagement. Explore the various options and activities available that can add color and vibrancy to the lives of seniors and their caregivers.
Aging comes with its own set of challenges, from cognitive decline and mental health struggles to maintaining physical dexterity and social connections. Art activities like coloring cater to these aspects while providing an enriching experience for yourself or the senior you care for.
Here are the key benefits:
1. Cognitive Stimulation: Coloring activates both hemispheres of the brain, improving cognitive function, memory, and attention. It’s especially helpful for individuals experiencing cognitive decline or conditions like Alzheimer’s or dementia.
The struggle of watching a loved one go through dementia or Alzheimer’s is heart-wrenching, and you’re constantly looking for ways to alleviate their difficulties. Studies suggest that coloring can positively impact individuals suffering from these conditions.
It keeps their minds engaged in a soothing and stress-free activity, reducing agitation common in these diseases.
2. Mental Health Enhancement: The calming nature of coloring can significantly reduce stress, anxiety, and symptoms of depression, promoting overall mental well-being.
According to a 2020 study, Trusted Source involving 120 older adults, 20 minutes of mandala coloring significantly relieved feelings of anxiety compared to plaid pattern coloring, free drawing, and reading. The participants who colored mandalas also reported feeling calm, safe, at ease, and good overall.
The act of coloring, combined with the colors themselves, may help produce this calming effect, according to Michele Goldman, psychologist and Hope for Depression Research Foundation Media Advisor.
“The repetitive movement of coloring can be soothing and calming for some people who have high stress and heightened anxiety,” Goldman explains.
What’s more, 2012 research suggests certain colors, like blue and pink, may help alleviate stress.
3. Physical Benefits: Coloring helps maintain fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, hand strength and even contributes to better sleep and pain management.
One big reason why coloring is such a common activity in preschool and elementary school classrooms? Coloring can help improve fine motor skills and dexterity — but not only in children.
“Adult coloring can be an effective therapy intervention for many adults with illnesses, or those who are grappling with the natural aging process,” Goldman says, going on to explain that coloring works motor skills. Focusing on keeping your hand steady may help if you experience shaking or tremors.
Besides improving fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, there are several other physical benefits of coloring for seniors.
Pain Management: Coloring might distract the brain from focusing on pain and discomfort, providing a natural form of pain management for seniors with chronic illnesses.
Sleep Improvements: Engaging in a relaxing activity like coloring before bedtime can help improve sleep quality by easing the transition into sleep. Note that it is advised to use soft lighting for evening coloring sessions so as not to stimulate the brain with bright light.
Improved Focus: The act of coloring requires particular attention to detail, exercising the concentration muscles and overall focus – a useful perk for daily life tasks.
Hand-Strength Enhancement: Regularly using coloring tools can serve as an exercise for the hands, stabilizing grip, improving dexterity, and enhancing hand strength. This can improve the execution of other manual tasks, from writing to cooking.
So, next time you worry about declining motor skills, try diving into a coloring session. With a variety of coloring books specifically tailored to seniors, it’s an activity that promises fun and a series of physical advantages.
Coloring may then lead to an improved ability to handle other fine motor tasks, like holding a cup of coffee or brushing your teeth, Goldman says.
4. Social Engagement: A shared coloring experience can strengthen bonds among family, friends, and community members, stimulating conversations and promoting social interaction.
Coloring doesn’t have to be a solitary experience. In fact, it can be quite a social activity bringing seniors, caregivers, and family members closer together. It can indeed play a significant role in enhancing the social life of seniors beyond the family or caregivers.
Here are some additional ways:
Coloring Clubs and Groups: Joining established coloring clubs or starting new ones can be a great way for seniors to socialize. Meeting with a group of like-minded peers on a regular basis to color can provide enjoyment, friendship, and community. It can be an exciting event to look forward to and can provide a sense of belonging.
Residential Community Events: If residing in a senior community or assisted living facility, coloring events can be organized to gather residents together. It’s a fun, inclusive way to encourage social engagement.
Online Communities: For those who may have mobility limitations or prefer the comfort of home, joining online coloring communities or groups on platforms like Facebook can offer a sense of connection. Members can share their completed works of art, exchange ideas about techniques and color choices, and enjoy camaraderie over a shared interest.
Art Shows and Sharing Sessions: Completed coloring projects are works of art. Organizing small exhibitions, sharing sessions, or even online art sales within the family, among friends, or at the community center can provide a platform for seniors to showcase their creativity, engage with others, and receive feedback, doing wonders for their self-esteem and joy.
Inter-generational Connections: Coloring is an activity loved by all ages. It can be a means for seniors to spend quality time with their grandchildren. This can foster deeper understanding and strengthen bonds across generations.
So, in these ways and more, coloring can be a powerful tool in expanding social interactions, offering satisfaction, and sustaining a healthy lifestyle for seniors.
5. Variety of Options: From simple large print coloring books to elaborate mandalas, digital apps, and group coloring sessions, numerous possibilities cater to different preferences, skill levels, and technological comfort zones.
When choosing coloring books for seniors, consider options with larger patterns and softer line work, which are easier on the eyes and less challenging for those with motor skill issues. We have some recommended titles in our Guide to the Best Coloring Books for Seniors and the Elderly.
Generally, books featuring themes like gardens, animals, or serene landscapes may stir feelings of joy and nostalgia.
6. Easy Integration: Coloring can be effortlessly incorporated into daily routines or even combined with favorite activities for a more richly rewarding experience.
Ultimately, coloring offers a well-rounded, beneficial activity ideal for seniors. It’s not just about creating a beautiful piece of art but also about stimulating the brain, lifting moods, keeping the body agile, connecting with others, and, most importantly, adding vibrant colors to the beautiful canvas of life.
Here are some alternatives to traditional coloring books. BTW, we carry a large variety of Printable Coloring Pages that can be purchased inexpensively and downloaded from our online store- oldhippys.com
Printable Coloring Pages: These can be found with a range of patterns—from detailed pictures to simple, large-patterned designs—and downloaded at a minimal cost. Seniors or caregivers can print a few at a time, providing flexibility in choosing different designs.
Coloring Canvas: These are readily available canvases that come pre-outlined with designs. They offer a more tactile and elevated artistic experience. Once completed, they can be displayed as artwork at home or given as gifts.
Transforming coloring into a regular activity doesn’t have to be difficult. Setting aside a specific, quiet time in the day for coloring can turn it into a hobby to look forward to.
This could be in the afternoons when it’s quiet or in the evenings as part of the wind-down routine before bed.
Another creative solution is to pair it up with other favorite activities. You could offer coloring time with a favorite radio show, an audiobook, or even during commercial breaks while watching TV.
Organizing a weekly family or community coloring session can provide a socially engaging structure to this activity.
As you explore the world of coloring, remember it’s about personal enjoyment. There’s no right or wrong in the colors chosen or the way the patterns are filled – it’s about the joy of creativity and the calm it brings to you or to the senior you care for.
So, go ahead, pick up those coloring tools, and discover the vibrant possibilities it brings.
See our downloadable coloring pages at https://oldhippys.com/collections/digital-coloring-pages