The benefits of community-based participatory arts activities for people living with dementia: a thematic scoping review

Abstract

Background:The drive towards living well with dementia has resulted in growing recognition of the value of community-based participatory arts. This review aimed to explore their overall impact and holistic benefits for people living with early to moderate stages of dementia. Methods: Using a scoping review methodology and thematic analysis, this review explores relevant literature published between 2008 and 2019. Results: 26 published papers were identified, comprising visual arts, literary arts, comedy, music and dance. The key themes included person-centred, in-the-moment approaches; participation and communication; attention and cognition; social cohesion and relationships; and the role of space, place and objects. Conclusions: There is strong evidence in support of using participatory arts for dementia, regardless of art form. In-the-moment and person-centred approaches were deemed impactful. Further research is needed to explore the important role of setting, material culture and the methodological or theoretical perspectives in participatory arts and dementia research.

Effects of Dance Interventions on Cognition, Psycho-Behavioral Symptoms, Motor Functions, and Quality of Life in Older Adult Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

“…Dance interventions can also play a positive role in improving attention. The improvement in attention can be attributed to the consideration and integration of multiple senses (Ward et al, 2020 ). In dance activities, patients can improve attention through tactile stimulation provided by assistive devices in dancing, through auditory stimulation provided by music, and through visual stimulation provided by follow-up exercises.…”

Creative Art Therapy as a Non-Pharmacological Intervention for Dementia: A Systematic Review

“…To name a few: music, dance, photography, and writing were among those that were not within the scope of this review. The recent scoping review on creative arts, including visual arts, literary arts, comedy, music, and dance identified only 26 studies [ 26 ], providing further support that this field remains largely under researched. Nevertheless, there is strong evidence in support of using participatory and participating arts for both people with dementia [ 26 ] and their informal carers [ 27 ], irrespectively of the art form.…”

“…The recent scoping review on creative arts, including visual arts, literary arts, comedy, music, and dance identified only 26 studies [ 26 ], providing further support that this field remains largely under researched. Nevertheless, there is strong evidence in support of using participatory and participating arts for both people with dementia [ 26 ] and their informal carers [ 27 ], irrespectively of the art form. Despite the emerging extensive body of literature over the last five years, there is a lack of consensus in defining quality of life for people with dementia, or what actually encompasses it.…”

Conceptualizing attunement in dementia care: a meta-ethnographic review

“…The performers are aware of the response from the audience and adjust their artistic expressions in order to affect the spectator in an intended way. According to a report from the World Health Organization and a review published in the Journal Arts & Health, the arts may help build social cohesion and support emotional and social skills by facilitating empathy, trust and social engagement, and produce more cooperative relationships (Fancourt & Saoirse, 2019;M. C. Ward et al, 2020).…”