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Understanding the MCI elderly people’s sense of well‐being through “Legacy Art Work”: A comparative study of Southeast China and Taiwan
Author(s) -
Lin WanYu
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1002/alz.042264
Subject(s) - feeling , happiness , the arts , psychology , china , dementia , qualitative research , well being , contentment , gerontology , sociology , social psychology , medicine , political science , psychotherapist , social science , disease , pathology , law
Objective The purpose of the research is to understand the influence of “Legacy Art Work” on the mild cognitive impairment (MCI) elderly people in cross‐Straits areas, and to discuss why these elderly people’s sense of well‐being can be improved by participating in the activity, through analyses of their feelings, life experiences and sentiment after their participation. Methods “Legacy Art Work” was programming initiated by Elder Share the Arts (ESTA, USA) and qualified by the official announcement as Prevention and Delayed Dementia Care Plan (PDD Care Plan, Taiwan), which believes that expressive art work can produce a happiness and stability in its participants. Through coordinated designed activities to multi artistic materials, one can enhance physical activation and attain inner peace. The research applies qualitative research method and semi‐structured interview with six elderly people, four volunteer workers and four family members in two different daycare centers associated with hospitals in both Southeast China and Taiwan. Results The researcher concludes as follows: I. Regarding the experiences and feelings of the elderly people while being in the activity, the elderly people who partake in the activity are significantly encouraged and willing to express more. II. Concerning the elderly people’s daily interaction with others after partaking in the activity, they become joyful and be inspired by the peers in the program of the activity. III. As for the influence of the activity on the sense of well‐being of the elderly people, the elderly people gain the sense of achievement and support from the society by their earnest commitment in the activity, and in return gratefully feedback to others. Conclusions These MCI elderly people’s sense of well‐being can be improved by participating through “Legacy Art Work”. Furthermore, the researchers will plan to practice the program in the Long Term Care institutions and communities in China in the near future.