Tools for Art Therapists to Promote Engagement and Independence for Cognitively Disabled Older Adults
Tools for Art Therapists to Promote Engagement and Independence for Cognitively Disabled Older Adults
The aim of this project is to build novel tools that increase the capacity of art therapists to engage cognitively disabled older people in artistic activities in the home. Engagement with the arts is becoming widely accepted as a method for promoting quality of life in older people. However, many older people have difficulty motivating themselves to engage in a creative activity for a reasonable period of time. These difficulties are compounded when the older adult suffers from a cognitive disability, such as dementia (e.g. Alzheimer's disease). The project will design and test novel multi-touch interfaces and devices specifically for artistic activities in the home.
Art therapists are professionals whose job is to work with older adults to engage them in artistic activities that increase quality of life by promoting autonomy and independence. Key goals of art therapy for older adults are promoting the person's autonomy and independence, and fulfilling their need to be meaningfully engaged or occupied, thereby possibly increasing the person's ability to engage in the world around him/her.
Art therapists at present work in day, hospital and residential care settings only. People remaining in their own home spend long periods with no occupation, as carers are often busy with daily routines.
These periods reduce the ability to engage with the creative process, and can result in the person lacking motivation and desire to participate in independent activities. While this engagement can be provided by a dedicated therapist, there is a lack of such therapists to support the increasing number of older adults with a cognitive disability and who are remaining in the home. Perhaps more importantly, a large benefit of engaging elderly persons with the arts at home is to enable them to do so independently and autonomously.
Given the difficulties that persons with cognitive disabilities have with independent motivation and autonomy, this benefit is largely missed by persons ageing in place.
Technology can increase a therapist's ability to reach older people in their homes, providing activities that a person can engage with autonomously and independently. This project will develop such technology, and will test the tools in art therapy sessions in the home. The tools will
* be safe, usable, engaging, and fun for elderly persons;
* be adaptable by art therapists (using a suitable high level
language) to reflect their personal practice; assist art therapists with intervention, assessment, and evaluation by extending their scope beyond interactive sessions to independent activities in the home;
* use artificial intelligence software to motivate and engage users, adapting to their changing needs, preferences, abilities and environments.
* use multi-touch technology to provide tangible (touch screen) interaction at multiple points, by both hands or with objects such as brushes or pens.
Funder: American Alzheimer's Association
Start Date: 01/01/2008
End Date: 31/12/2011
For further information about the Tools for Art Therapists to Promote Engagement and Independence for Cognitively Disabled Older Adults project please contact Dr Jesse Hoey.