ArtontheBrain: Results of a Pilot Project Among Long-Term Care Residents

Abstract

For long-term care (LTC) residents, multiple barriers impede access to formal museum-based participa-tory art programming. Capitalizing on available technologies may circumvent common barriers and improve quality of life for those older adults even in the presence of dementia. Targets: A convenience sample of 31 older adults was recruited from the population of residents in one LTC facility. Intervention: ArtontheBrain, a web-based program, engages participants in activities centered on visual artwork, enabling users to learn about artists through activities, such as puzzles, storytelling, and group discussions. Mechanisms of Action: Researchers hypothesized that engagement with ArtontheBrain would benefit perceived quality of life in the domains of meaningful activity engagement and personal relationships and secondarily, improvements in functional performance, mood state, and cognitive performance may occur. Outcomes: Application of a quality of life survey pre and post ArtontheBrain intervention revealed significant improvements within the individual subsample for two activity options: engagement in enjoyable activities on weekends and evenings and explore new skills and interests. Total scores for the personal relationship scale had significant improvements post-intervention for the individual and group subsamples. The individual subsample demonstrated improvement in cognitive performance, which worsened for the group subsample. Mood and functional ability worsened for the entire sample.[ Research in Gerontological Nursing, 14 (5), 235–243.]

Online gallery facilitated art activities for people with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond: A narrative review

“…For many people with dementia living in residential aged care homes, their capacity to access such services was and, in many cases, continues to be limited by the lack of information and communication technology infrastructure to enable residents to engage in internet-based activities (Chu et al, 2021). An innovative pre-COVID-19 exception to this is the ArtontheBrain program, a web-based program offering people with dementia in long term care the opportunity to engage in three different types of art activities on an iPad (Howard et al, 2021).…”

“…Nine articles described the impact of COVID-19 on engaging with gallery-based art activities (Bascu et al, 2021; Bradbury et al, 2021; Czech et al, 2022; Grácio, 2020; Holcombe-James, 2021; Howard et al, 2021; International Council of Museums, 2020; Stewart et al, 2022; Talbot & Briggs, 2022). The COVID-19 pandemic prompted many governments to impose a range of restrictions, including social/physical distancing and lockdown/stay-at-home measures designed to curb the spread of COVID-19.…”

“…The findings of fifteen articles were relevant to how digital technology may mitigate the impact of COVID-19 restrictions (Bacsu et al, 2021;Boots et al, 2014;Brandão et al, 2022;Chu et al, 2021;Cuffaro et al, 2020;Curelaru et al, 2021;Heins et al, 2021;Howard et al, 2021;Hung et al, 2018Hung et al, , 2019Hung et al, , 2021O'Rourke et al, 2021;Quail et al, 2021;Tuijt et al, 2021;Salva et al, 2020). The COVID-19 pandemic has and continues to seriously impact the morbidity and mortality of people with dementia (Bacsu et al, 2021).…”