TY - JOUR

T1 - The role of the visual arts in the resilience of people living with dementia in care homes

AU - Newman, Andrew

AU - Goulding, Anna

AU - Davenport, Bruce

AU - Windle, Gillian

PY - 2019/11

Y1 - 2019/11

N2 - This study responds to a gap in the literature relating to the resilience of people living with dementia in care homes. We applied an ecopsychosocial framework of resilience, theorising that sources of resilience may be personal, social and structural. Visual arts enrichment activities were examined to see how they might provide opportunities for resilience. The data used for this study were qualitative and originated from people with dementia aged between 70 and 99 years old (N = 48) living in four care homes in North East England, United Kingdom and staff/carers/family members (N = 37). The results showed that visual arts enrichment activities supported the resilience of those with dementia through creative expression, increased communication, improved self-esteem, and influenced relationships with carers and family members. It is concluded that even those with advanced dementia are capable of demonstrating resilience which can be supported by, and explored through, visual arts enrichment activities

AB - This study responds to a gap in the literature relating to the resilience of people living with dementia in care homes. We applied an ecopsychosocial framework of resilience, theorising that sources of resilience may be personal, social and structural. Visual arts enrichment activities were examined to see how they might provide opportunities for resilience. The data used for this study were qualitative and originated from people with dementia aged between 70 and 99 years old (N = 48) living in four care homes in North East England, United Kingdom and staff/carers/family members (N = 37). The results showed that visual arts enrichment activities supported the resilience of those with dementia through creative expression, increased communication, improved self-esteem, and influenced relationships with carers and family members. It is concluded that even those with advanced dementia are capable of demonstrating resilience which can be supported by, and explored through, visual arts enrichment activities

KW - Care homes

KW - Carers

KW - Resilience

KW - Older People

KW - arts enrichment activities

KW - Dementia

U2 - 10.1017/S0144686X18000594

DO - 10.1017/S0144686X18000594

M3 - Article

VL - 39

SP - 2465

EP - 2482

JO - Ageing and Society

JF - Ageing and Society

SN - 0144-686X

IS - 11

ER -