Art for Empowerment : One-on-one art sessions with dementia patients

Abstract

The objective of this final project was to implement one-on-one art sessions with three geriatric dementia patients who weren't active in daily recreational activities. This activity-based final project could then be used by instructors who are working with the geriatric population. It was also an aim to explore the empowerment of these three dementia patients through the ‘Art for empowerment’ art sessions. This final project was implemented at the Bradford Valley long term care center in Ontario, Canada. 
 This final project was an activity-based project in which qualitative research methods of data gathering were used. A focused interview for the collection of data from the patients´ relatives and the observation of the one-on-one art sessions were used
 
 The results showed that the patients momentarily experienced positive feelings from these sessions and clearly enjoyed them, these experiences were momentary because of the illness that they are suffering from. I found that during the sessions the patients were able to express themselves and have an experience of accomplishing something on their own, in their lives where their ability to proceed in everyday tasks is limited .