Abstract

A Visual Arts Education program was tested among 26 pairs of persons with dementia and their caregivers. Pairs were randomized to Visual Arts Education or control groups, and each group met once per week for two months (8 weeks) to participate in activities with a trained arts instructor. Groups were assessed at baseline, two months, and six months. The Visual Arts Education group received instruction and produced a different type of artistic work each week. The pedagogical strategy was designed so that each activity was increasingly novel, challenging, and complex. The control group viewed slide shows, participated in discussions about art, and made paintings. At the six-month follow-up, significant improvements in caregiver burden and self-esteem for the persons with dementia were found in the Visual Arts Education group. The Visual Arts Education pedagogical approach shows the potential for effectiveness for improving quality of life for persons with dementia and their caregivers.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3130-3142
Number of pages13
JournalDementia
Volume18
Issue number7-8
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 2019

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2018.

Funding

We thank our participants with ADRD and their caregivers. We also thank the Clinical Core and Outreach and Recruitment Cores of the University of Kentucky Alzheimer’s Disease Center for assistance with recruitment. We would like to acknowledge the test administrators who assisted with this study: Derek Cryer, Elizabeth F Jerrell, Olivia Lussi, Hayla Ragland, and Sarah N Smith. We would also like to thank the artists on faculty at the School of Art and Visual Studies who loaned their artworks for display during the art activities: Garry Bibbs, Natasha Giles, Arturo Sandoval, Bobby Scroggins, Brandon Smith, Hunter Stamps, and David Wischer. This acknowledgment is also extended to our community partners for their invaluable service: Emily Dann and Joe Tietyen. Finally, we thank the Director of the School of Art and Visual Studies, Dr Robert Jensen for his help and support in securing a spacious and handicap accessible location for this study to be conducted.

FundersFunder number
ADRD
University of Kentucky Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
National Institute on AgingP30AG028383
National Institute on Aging

    Keywords

    • caregiving
    • dementia
    • pedagogy
    • randomized controlled trial
    • visual arts education

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Sociology and Political Science
    • General Social Sciences

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