Impact of the ‘Artful Moments’ Intervention on Persons with Dementia and Their Care Partners: a Pilot Study

Authors

  • Afeez Abiola Hazzan Hamilton Health Sciences-St. Peter's Hospital and McMaster University
  • Janis Humphrey McMaster University
  • Laurie Kilgour-Walsh Art Gallery of Hamilton
  • Katherine L. Moros Hamilton Health Sciences-St Peter’s Hospital
  • Carmen Murray Hamilton Health Sciences-St Peter’s Hospital
  • Shannon Stanners Hamilton Health Sciences-St Peter’s Hospital
  • Maureen Montemuro McMaster University
  • Aidan Giangregorio St Peter’s Hospital
  • Alexandra Papaioannou St Peter’s Hospital

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5770/cgj.19.220

Keywords:

art, dementia, caregiving, long-term care, burden

Abstract

Background

Engaging with art can be valuable for persons living with dementia. ‘Artful Moments’ was a collaborative project undertaken by the Art Gallery of Hamilton and the Behavioural Health Program at Hamilton Health Sciences that sought to develop and implement a program of arts-based activities for persons in the middle-to-late stages of dementia who exhibit behavioural symptoms and for their accompanying care partners.

Methods

This pilot study employed a qualitative descriptive design. Eight participants were observed during multiple art sessions to evaluate their level of engagement in the program. Care partners also completed a questionnaire describing their experience. Qualitative content analysis was used to identify themes.

Results

For program participants, factors that promoted continued interest and engagement in art included: care partner involvement, group activities, opportunities to share opinions, validation of their personhood, and increased engagement over time. Care partners observed improvements in participants’ creativity, communication, relationship forming, and task accomplishment, and some reported reduced stress.

Conclusions

‘Artful Moments’ promoted engagement and expression in persons in the middle-to-late stages of dementia, as well as having benefits for their care partners. Limitations of the study included a small convenience sample drawn from one hospital setting.

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Published

2016-04-08

How to Cite

1.
Hazzan AA, Humphrey J, Kilgour-Walsh L, Moros KL, Murray C, Stanners S, Montemuro M, Giangregorio A, Papaioannou A. Impact of the ‘Artful Moments’ Intervention on Persons with Dementia and Their Care Partners: a Pilot Study. Can Geriatr J [Internet]. 2016 Apr. 8 [cited 2024 Mar. 29];19(2):58-65. Available from: https://cgjonline.ca/index.php/cgj/article/view/220

Issue

Section

Original Research