Memories in the making: outcome-based evaluation of an art program for individuals with dementing illnesses
Open accessAbstract
The author presents the results of a pilot project, an outcomes-based evaluation of Memories in the Making: An art program for individuals with dementing illnesses. Sponsored by the Greater Cincinnati Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association and implemented at adult day and nursing home sites, participants in the weekly art program use paints to express themselves by creating colorful visual images on paper or fabric. The individuals experienced pleasurable, sustained activity while engaged in making art. Utilizing M.P. Lawton's conceptualization of psychological well-being as a framework, chapter staff developed an observational instrument, which measured objective and subjective indicators of the affect state and self-esteem of 41 participants in the art program. Overall, preliminary data suggests that participation in the weekly sessions contributed to the individuals' sense of well-being. However, more rigorous study is warranted using comparison groups to determine if indeed an enhanced sense of well-being can be attributed with certainty to the intervention of the Memories in the Making art program.
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Art therapy effects may be long-lasting in dementia.
“Case reports, observational studies, small trials and anecdotal evidence suggest that art therapy can engage attention, provide pleasure, and improve BPSD, social behavior, and self-esteem, contributing to the individual sense of well-being in dementia, and that these effects may be long-lasting (230–243).”
From The Multidisciplinary Approach to Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia. A Narrative Review of Non-Pharmacological Treatment (2018) · cites this paper as [231]
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- Authors
- Rentz, C. A.
- Affiliations
- Alzheimer's Association (US)
- Corresponding author
- Rentz, Clarissa A.
- Venue
- American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementias®
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2002-05
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 175-181
- ISSN
- 0888-4897 (ISSN-L)
- 1533-3175
- 1938-2731
- PMC
- PMC10833850
- OpenAlex
- W2067287705
- Cited by
- 73
- References
- 16
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 46.55
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- American Journal of Alzheimer s Disease & Other Dementias® (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Conservation › Art Therapy and Mental Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes
- Keywords
- art therapy, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, psychological well-being, self-esteem, outcome measurement, nursing homes, adult day care, painting, reminiscence
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Alzheimer Disease, Art Therapy, Day Care, Medical, Emotions, Female, Homes for the Aged, Humans, Male, Memory, Nursing Homes, Personality Assessment, Quality of Life
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