Principles and features of arts interventions in dementia

What is it about?

Arts interventions offered to people with dementia are very varied and it is difficult to assess what the effective components are, in other words, what makes them work, for whom, and when. Our study combined a literature review with findings from focus groups and workshops to look at these questions. We identified nine elements that contribute towards successful interventions, which we have called Principles. These were: Animation, Transcendence, Selfhood, Humanity, Expression, Connection, Possibility, Involvement, and Awareness. Each of the Principles was noted to have a set of relevant features underlying, and these have also been described in the paper. This research is an important contribution to understanding how arts interventions 'work' and can help practitioners to consider elements that their work should include.

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Why is it important?

This research is an important contribution to understanding how arts interventions 'work' and can help practitioners to consider elements that their work should include.