By Jackie Pope-Ganser, Life Enrichment Director, Meadows at Mercy Creek
It seems that no matter how technology advances us as a society, some things never go out of fashion. Adult coloring books are all the rage right now. Research shows that the therapeutic benefits of this activity can help generate wellness, spark creativity, encourage calmness, and foster social connectedness. In senior living, this pastime can help one feel youthful again and supports many aspects of the eight dimensions of wellness that make it possible to enjoy a happy and healthy lifestyle well into the golden years.
As we get older, there are new challenges to face that create new anxieties. Taking time to slow the mind through a creative outlet such as coloring helps adults become calmer and de-stress. Coloring activities require us to use both sides of the brain—when we select a particular color for a piece of the picture, we are using logic, but when we mix and match the color palette, we are being creative. For individuals suffering from motor skill or dementia-related conditions, the activity is particularly therapeutic as they can exercise both cognitive and physical skills to create a gratifying work of art.
Adult coloring can also foster social engagement. Much like popular “wine and paint” parties, adult coloring is something that can be done in groups. In our senior living community, a favorite activity is the weekly “Coloring and a Cherry Coke Hour.” As adult coloring books encompass a vast array of themes—flowers, birds, cats and dogs, wildlife and farm animals, fashions from previous eras, landscapes and cityscapes, inspirational quotes, meditative Mandalas, and more—an individual can choose whatever fits their mood. Pair the activity with familiar music in an engaging environment, and the stage is set for a comfortable social interaction.
Coloring books for adults can also create reminiscing opportunities for seniors, taking them back to another place and time, or allow them to preserve history for younger generations. A woman in her late 90s has created “albums” for her children and grandchildren through adult coloring activities. She selects coloring pages that remind her of her home, travels, career, her children and grandchildren, then writes a brief story about her life connected to that picture. Through the simple childhood pastime of coloring, she is preserving history for her family to be treasured and passed down as true heirlooms—created by their grandmother’s own hand.
Coloring can also transport an older adult back to their childhood. It can take them back to the stress- free days of their youth, recalling happy memories that make them look at the day more positively. It can also bring back memories of historical eras that they may have lived through, like the Great Depression and World Wars, and create prideful and confident moments.
One of the most important benefits of coloring for adults is that it sparks creativity and positivity that can carry over to other aspects of their lives. By practicing the use and blending of colors, an individual may see colors differently. It may come through when looking at flowers and gardens, when selecting the clothes to wear, and in the way one sees others that may result in a compliment that will brighten another’s day.
While adult coloring is not a fix for a serious ailment or condition, it does promote use of cognitive and creative skills and contributes to emotional wellness. With so many therapeutic benefits, it’s hard to resist this fun, relaxing, creative activity that lets you be the artist.
Meadows offers a full range of senior living options—Independent Living, Independent Living—Plus!, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Respite Care, and Achieve! Wellness and Rehab Therapy—with two locations: Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community in Chenoa and Meadows at Mercy Creek in Normal. To learn more about senior living options at Meadows, visit www.meadowscommunities.org, or contact Holly Hall at 309-268-1501.
Photo credit: Jacob Ammentorp Lund/iStock