Artsheimer's

Colorful conversations for families living with dementia

Meet in the middle of the page.

Artsheimer's makes simple, themed coloring pages and books with conversation prompts built in. Grandparents, grandkids and caregivers now have something easy to do together, and inspire conversations along the way.

Get free pages Read our story

Free to print. No sign-up needed.

How it works

One page. Two people. Countless conversations. 

1

Pick a page

Elegantly simple designs of objects and scenes that conjure up a memory from people of all ages, free to color in the way you want.

2

Sit side by side

Share the page. There's no right color and no finish line. The time together is the whole point.

3

Turn over the card

Every page comes with gentle prompts that invite a story instead of testing a memory. Ask one, then listen.

Free printables

Free pages to print now.

Each download is a coloring page plus a conversation card. Print as many as you like for yourself, family or caregiving event. 

The Kitchen Table

“Coffee or tea? And how do you take it?”

The Sunday Drive

“If we had the whole day, where should we drive?”

The Front Porch Garden

“Which flower would you plant first, and why that one?”

Our story

It started with Grace. Then came Bob.

My grandmother, Grace Debord, was an avid golfer with the gift of gab. Near the end of her life, Alzheimer's took her memories and many of her abilities to connect with the people in her life.

When we brought our young boys to visit her at an assisted living home, I never knew what to do with our time together. I needed something simple that put both ends of the age spectrum on equal footing and got everyone chatting. Sadly, I had no good answers. Grace passed away peacefully in 2012.

In 2022, my father-in-law, Bob, began showing signs of dementia. Slowly, a distance grew between this gregarious grandpa and his nine grandchildren. No one meant for it to happen. There just wasn't anything to do together that didn't confuse Bob or feel awkward for the kids. It felt like Grace all over again.

So Artsheimer's began, not as a business idea, but as an answer to something our family felt deeply. A way to meet and connect in the middle.

"If we help create one more giggle, one more story from the past, one more memory between generations, it's worth it."
Dale Alexander, founder

Why it works

Families feel it. Researchers see it. 

We're a family project, not scientists. But the published research and our kitchen table research agree - art, stories and time across generations do people good.

Talking helps

A Cochrane review of 16 studies and 1,749 people found reminiscence gave small boosts to thinking skills. Group sessions also helped people communicate.

Woods et al., Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2018
Read the review

Art lifts life

A 2021 review of 17 creative art studies found 16 reported better quality of life for people with dementia. The studies were small, and the authors call for more.

Emblad & Mukaetova-Ladinska, Journal of Alzheimer's Disease Reports, 2021
Read the review

Coloring calms

In a randomized study, 20 minutes of coloring a structured design lowered anxiety, while free drawing on a blank page did not. Participants were college students, not people with dementia.

Curry & Kasser, Art Therapy, 2005
About the study

Bridging Gaps

A review of intergenerational programs judged them beneficial for older adults, found them workable for people with dementia, and saw children's views of older people improve.

Gualano et al., International Psychogeriatrics, 2018
Read the abstract

Connection wins

The Alzheimer's Association recommends art that's adult, not childlike, and reminiscence where “the goal is connection, not testing memory.”

Alzheimer's Association caregiving guidance
Art and music · Reminiscence

Long is strong

Alzheimer's first affects the part of the brain that handles recent memories. Older memories are stored elsewhere and often stay reachable longer, so our pages and prompts reach back to familiar, long-ago things.

Alzheimer's Association caregiving guidance
Reminiscence and memory

The fine print: Artsheimer's isn't a treatment or therapy. It's a simple, good way to spend time together.

What we promise

Respectful, bright and easy.

Tasteful for all

Real subjects adults care about, drawn with dignity. Nothing that feels like a kids' menu.

Invite, never quiz

Our prompts ask for opinions, senses and stories. You won't find “Do you remember…?” anywhere.

Easy on the eyes

Clear lines, generous spaces and large type, so pages work with shaky hands and tired eyes.

No skill, no problem

Color outside the lines. Stop halfway. Talk the whole time. The page is just the excuse.

Who it's for

A seat at the table for everyone.

Families & grandkids

Visits now have an easy activity to get people on the same page. Kids color right alongside grandparents, and the prompts get the chatter going. 

Caregivers at home

A calm, ready-made twenty minutes of activity that's an easy add to anyone's schedule. Print, sit, and simply be together.

Memory care teams

Pages and prompts that work for groups during activity time. Tell us what your residents enjoy and help shape what we make next.

Join the list to stay in touch

The first Artsheimer's book is on its way.

Join the list for new free pages as we make them, and the first look at our themed coloring books. Occasional emails, unsubscribe anytime.