Evaluation of the 'Unforgettable' art programme by people with dementia and their care-givers

Iris Hendriks, Franka J. M. Meiland, Debby L. Gerritsen, Rose-Marie Dröes

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Art programmes have been shown to contribute to the quality of life of people with dementia. To understand how people with dementia benefit from art programmes it is important to evaluate them. 'Unforgettable' is an interactive museum programme for people with dementia and their care-givers in the Netherlands. This study examined how it is experienced and appreciated by its users. It also investigated whether the user experience and appreciation are linked to their specific background characteristics. In a single-group design, we used a 'take-home' survey to collect the participants' background characteristics and their experience and appreciation of the programme. A before and after intervention measurement took place, using a smiley face scale, to measure the change in mood of participants. Participants evaluated the programme very positively. Social interaction proved a key factor in their appreciation. The mood of the persons with dementia (N = 95) and care-givers (N = 104) improved after participation in the 'Unforgettable' programme. The results of this evaluation may contribute to the quality of art programmes in museums.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)294-312
Number of pages19
JournalAgeing and Society
Volume41
Issue number2
Early online date19 Sept 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2021

Keywords

  • art programmes
  • care-givers
  • dementia
  • psycho-social intervention

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