Color Therapy for Alzheimer

Therapy or treatment is a remediation of health problems, an ordinary diagnosis. People

who do therapy are called therapists. In the medical field, the word therapy is the same as the
word treatment. Among psychologists, this word faces psychotherapy. There are various types of
therapy according to each disease. From physical therapy to mental therapy. This essay will
explain color therapy for Alzheimer's patients.

Alzheimer is a degenerative disease characterized by a decrease in memory, intellectual,

and personality. This disease cannot be cured, but actions aimed at stopping the progression of
the disease and increasing the independence of the patient (Dr. Phil Kumala Dewi, 2008). In
patients with Alzheimer's, there are deficiency of memory, ability to talk, solving their problem
and intelectual abilities whose affect a person's competence to do activities daily. This decrease
happen because nerve cells (neurons) in the part of the brain participate in cognitive function
have been destroyed and became dysfunctional.

People with Alzheimer's depend on other people. Near the end of their life, they may be
just lie in bed all the time. Alzheimer's scientists have not fully understood the reason for
Alzheimer in most people. Some cases in early of Alzheimer’s is a genetic component.
Alzheimer's arises from complex brain changes that have happened for decades. The reason
might be a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Everyone has their own
ability to increase or reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer

Alzheimer is also the most common cause of dementia, which is around 60-70% of all
cases of dementia. The incidence of Alzheimer's cases is rapidly increasing into an epidemic in
America with the incidence of Alzheimer's as many as 187: 100,000 per year and Alzheimer's
sufferers 123: 100,000 per year. According to the National Alzheimer's Association (2003),
Alzheimer's disease attacks up to 10% of people aged 65 years and over, and this balance
multiplies every 10 years over a 65 year period also as many as 85 years or more can be
confirmed as having Alzheimer's.

Alzheimer's type dementia and other dementia are progressive, a degenerative disease
that attacks the brain. Alzheimer's disease affects a person’s ability that exists in various aspects
of life. There are 2 types of Alzheimer, namely Alzheimer's Disease familia (FAD) that does not
fit a special congenital pattern and sporadic Alzheimer's Disease that does not fit the innate
pattern.

In the initial phase, Alzheimer's sufferers will look easy to forget, such as forgetting the
names of objects, places, events that have not been long ago, and contents that have not been
recently discussed. Over time, the disorder will increase. Alzheimer's sufferers will have
difficulty speaking or pouring things into language, and making decisions, often looking
confused, getting lost in unusual places, and mood disorders, like that, such as being easily
suspicious, demanding, and aggressive. In severe cases, people with Alzheimer's disease can
experience delusions and hallucinations, and are unable to carry out activities or even unable to
move without using other people.

The impact experienced by Alzheimer's sufferers is not only in terms of behavior but also
from a psychological perspective. This is known as BPSD (Behavioral Symptoms and
Psychological Dementia) or previously known as Psychosis in Dementia or Psychosis of
Alzheimer's Disease (PAD), which are symptoms, processes, thoughts, and feelings that often
occur in dementia patients (Science education module). There are many behaviors used in the
BPSD. One of the most effective therapies is color therapy.

Color Therapy in Alzheimer's patients is relatively new. The therapy uses a method or
trick by placing items that are People with dementia colored with appropriate colors. Like
shopping, places, and cutlery. Usually, People with dementia is lazy to eat because it is difficult
to distinguish food from the place because the color is very similar to the color that is very good
and very good for People with dementia. Next is the color of the cat outside. It turns out that the
color of cats can affect the mood and spirit of People with dementia.

Based on his experience in China called Yao, he saw the effect of color on his
grandmother who suffered from Alzheimer's. He trains rooms, cutlery, clothes, and other
equipment using contrast colors than before. After several months, there are various changed
attitudes and behaviors from eating difficulties to love eating, from that bad mood often becomes
more cheerful. This is evidence that it is very important with attitudes, behaviors, and moods.
Moreover, Alzheimer's sufferers progressively deteriorate, are unable to read & write, long-term
memory disorders, substitution using words (paraphasia), misidentification, labile and easily
irritable.

Learning about the influence of color on human behavior, emotions and physical
condition are known as color psychology. Just like green causes comfort, reduces stress, and
calms emotions. Cheerful Orange Color. Purple has a profound effect on the soul. Blue Color
that is cool and soothing. White colors are sacred, bringing peace and a comfortable feeling.
Black colors that make it comfortable, protective, and mysterious, are associated with silence
(Martinson & Nicholson, 2002; Pytel, 2006).

From this explanation, it can be concluded that the colors around Alzheimer's sufferers
can affect their mood and behavior. This certainly helps nurses carry out their role in meeting the
needs of patients during therapy so that the process of starting patients can be effective and
faster.