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USE_OF_ARTS_FOR_DEMENTIA_PATIENTS_A_Lite
USE_OF_ARTS_FOR_DEMENTIA_PATIENTS_A_Lite
USE_OF_ARTS_FOR_DEMENTIA_PATIENTS_A_Lite
Academia Letters, August 2021 ©2021 by the author — Open Access — Distributed under CC BY 4.0
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According to this study, autobiographical memory helps in developing one’s self, or individ-
ual identity, and to remain oriented in the world, and to follow goals effectively in the light
of past problem solving and interpersonal goals. As a research outcome in this study, it is
mentioned that patients with vascular dementia has significant impairment in both personal
semantic and personal autobiographical incidents memory. The researchers have concluded
that patients with vascular dementia mostly have problems in expressing their thoughts in a
consistent manner (6).
In experimental settings, retrospective memory is often measured by presenting a list of
words or similar stimuli to the participants, and then asking them to recall as many words as
possible (as in free recall tasks) (5), or to distinguish previously presented items from new
items (as in recognition tasks). Also, autobiographical semi-structured questionnaires have
been utilized to assess the participant’s ability to recall both general information (semantic
component) and detailed specific events situated in time and space (episodic component) (6).
Budson and Price have noted that damage to the frontal lobes could cause episodic mem-
ory loss in patients with vascular dementia (7). This may contribute to distorted and inaccu-
rate memories. A study by Bose and others state that their group of vascular dementia patients
“showed poor performance in childhood semantic section.” As explained in their study, the
patients with vascular dementia could not recall specifics and could not describe detail of their
episodic autobiographical memories.
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of music therapy, this research says, “It does so by arousing its participants out of a state of
malaise, anxiety, confusion or depression, and into a state where they connect.” The examiner
of this particular study opines that when patients connect with the music, they possibly connect
with the past (and possibly with their own past), and with those around them. Importantly,
“In virtue of doing so, they become social participants again” (10).
Poetry has been understood as a useful activity for sensory stimulation. Reading poetry,
especially, poems from the past that the people with dementia could connect to, often encour-
aged verbal expression and conversations (11). It is told that “The significance of the poetry
intervention in terms of generating exchange between the performer and the people with de-
mentia is to be found in the sensation of the communal performance of poetic language as a
turn in dialog through call and response, thereby capitalizing on the expressive potential of
the body” (12). In addition, the positive impact of the poetry intervention can be ascribed to
the room it offers for the input of formulaic language, commonalities, and other vocal input
by people with dementia, which develop into new, pulsing and rhyming sessions (12). An
empirical study indicates that poetry for people with dementia enables self-expression (13).
Dramatherapy is an intervention that “Addresses the whole person, and the healthy as-
pects of the person respond with creativity and may ease the discomfort of any deficits” (14).
Focusing on the role of the dramatherapist, Jaaniste provides the following elaboration: “The
dramatherapist is considered as ‘scene shifter’ as well as a ‘shape shifter’ in the quest to ad-
dress the issues of persons with moderate and severe dementia. In this role, the therapist
notices the transformative potential of the drama being enacted by the clients and shifts the
scene from within the playspace in order to extend a useful theme for them. Listening for
meaning in embodiment or dialogue, the dramatherapist allows the client to change roles to
allow transformation to occur” (14)
Storytelling as Therapy
Storytelling is a common and everyday part of human existence, and emerges early in life and
is a social activity that occurs across cultures (15). Stories take different forms, such as, myths,
folk tales, legends, fictional, autobiographical, and self-narratives (16,17) “The reasons people
tell stories are manifold: to entertain, to transfer knowledge between generations, to maintain
cultural heritage, or to warn others of dangers” (16). Therapists have used storytelling as an
intervention, or a treatment technique in therapy to support people with dementia (15,16).
The power of story as a transformative teaching tool, presents to the reader or listener
a virtual world populated not only by human action, but also by intention, desire, emotion,
perception, volition, and sensations (18). According to Bai and Cohen, “By virtue of entering
Academia Letters, August 2021 ©2021 by the author — Open Access — Distributed under CC BY 4.0
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and participating in an imaginative story-world, a person lets go of, or at least may hold more
loosely, his or her old patterns and meanings, and thus is open and receptive to trying out
vicariously patterns of thinking and ways of looking and feeling that are unfamiliar and fresh.
Story listening has the potential to facilitate a different state of consciousness in the listener,
at least temporarily, and in that altered state an openness may emerge that allows for new
possibilities of being – possibilities that are predisposed to be in line with the experience of
awakening and seeing the world non-dually” (18).
According to Pennington, stories are the foundation of consciousness, as constructing or
comprehending a story is closely associated with people’s memory and thinking processes
(19). Stories have the fundamental aspect of connecting with human emotions, thus evoking
cognitive aspects of its audience (16). Reading or listening to stories provide people with
comfort, encouragement and inspiration (20). Storytelling is an important natural activity of
humanity which contributes to the development of both individual and society (21). In order
to enhance interpersonal relationship, storytelling can teach others to focus on the person with
dementia, to recognize the person’s capacity for growth, meaning, engagement, and, perhaps
most importantly, their ability to teach valuable lessons about life (22,23).
People with dementia seem to engage in the same storytelling processes that they likely
did before they had dementia (15). While people with dementia have difficulty recalling and
discussing current events, they find it easier to speak about memories from earlier in their
lives (15). Several research shows the benefits of implementing reminiscence programmes
for people with a dementia diagnosis (24,25). Fels and Astell concluded that a reminiscence
program, with the application of a normative model of storytelling, is an effective way to
enhance the cognitive capacity of people with dementia, “even when dementia severity is
quite advanced” (15). Other studies have reported that establishing a way to connect with past
memories can help to reestablish a link to the present (26,27).
Storytelling is a non-pharmacological approach without any harmful side effects, and offer
many benefits for people with dementia. It addresses issues related to cognition, communica-
tion, daily functioning, and quality of life. Also, it can help people with dementia to engage
and share memories with other people; to use their existing social and cognitive skills; and
to participate as equals in a social situation, feel positive about themselves, and be success-
ful (15). Studies show that creative activities have the potential to improve quality of life
for people with dementia through positive effects on sociability, mental acuity, self-esteem,
memory, emotional expression, and reductions in behavioural and psychological symptoms
of dementia.
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Academia Letters, August 2021 ©2021 by the author — Open Access — Distributed under CC BY 4.0