“It is the beautiful things that let us live”: How engaging in creative activities outside of standardized interventions helps family members of persons with Dementia
Year: 2021
Type: article
Abstract: Creative activities can have profound positive effects on family members of persons with dementia. Typically, these effects have been studied in the context of standardized arts-based interventions. However, family members of persons with dementia may also engage in creative activities outside of standardized interventions. As these kinds of creative activities have not been investigated so far, the present study tried to fill this gap based on seven semi-structured interviews. The interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis. The participants reported a wide range of activities that included, but were not limited to, prototypical creative activities such as making music and writing. Crucially, the positive effects extended beyond the experience of engaging in the activities themselves and also included significant changes in cognitions, emotions and behaviour that helped the participants to make meaning of the challenges and difficulties that are associated with the dementia diagnosis of a loved one.
Source: Dementia
Authors: Fabian Hutmacher, Klara Schouwink
Institution: University of Würzburg
Language: English
Subfield: Conservation
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,000
OpenAlex ID: W3207246254