Alzheimer’s Disease and Art: Pictures & Books to Share
March 9, 2007 by Liz Lewis
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
If you search on Amazon.com for books dealing Alzheimer’s Disease, you get over 19,000 responses. The books cover topics such as what is it, how to cope, advice for caregivers, etc. But there are very few books out there for people with advanced Alzheimer’s Disease. It is assumed that as the disease advances, the ability to read and recognize decreases. But more and more experts believe that art can have positive effects on damaged brains. 
Pictures to Share, a British non-profit publishing company, provides large format photo books featuring images collected from artists and galleries. Each 32 page book has 14 photographs or painting with large print quotations sitting alongside. The quotes are short and mostly from poems. At present the following theme books are available: Women’s Work in Pictures The Countryside in Pictures Childhood in Pictures Suggestions on how to use these books include giving the person your sharing the book with the choice of what to do. They might dwell on a picture, turn the page straight away or even talk about memories that the picture might trigger. Does anyone know of similar publications in the United States ?
This is very interesting, Liz….books to read with or to be read by dementia and Alzheimer’s patients. Of course, many of them only look at the pictures. However, caregivers and families often would like to know where to find them.
Mary,
I would love to connect with you but couldn’t find a personal email address on this site. We have been publishing “therapy” large print, picture books for Alzheimer’s/dementia suffers in the US for years. Without being connected with a major publishing house it is very difficult for us to find a way into the mainstream market. I’d love to find a way for more caregivers to learn about them. These books are great tools for starting conversations and reminiscing. We have received wonderful reviews over the years from our customers. Thank you, Laura