As there are no curative treatments as yet for the dementias, it is important to promote well-being and quality of life to improve the lives of those living with the condition now. There is a growing interest in the use of art as a psychosocial intervention for people with dementia. However, the evidence is mixed and has methodological weaknesses. This exploratory study aimed to not only evaluate a visual art programme, but also to suggest a methodology in response to the current challenges in the evaluation of art interventions. This presentation focusses on the use of observation methods.
A visual art intervention was run in two North Wales care homes for people with dementia. Fifteen participants were observed using an adapted version of the Greater Cincinnati Chapter Well-Being Observation Tool during three conditions; the art session, another structured activity, and unstructured time. Participants also completed several validated questionnaires before and after the intervention.
The results showed a general trend of greater well-being in the art intervention than in the other structured activity and unstructured activity. A trend towards an increase in quality of life after attending the art intervention was also found. The study demonstrated a feasible methodology which could help researchers increase the evidence of the benefits of art interventions in a more rigorous way. Recommendations for future research are suggested.