Role of art centres for Aboriginal Australians living with dementia in remote communities

An integrative review of Indigenous informal caregiving in the context of dementia care

AIMS

To appraise the empirical literature on the needs of Indigenous informal caregivers caring for people living with dementia in Indigenous communities.

DESIGN

Whittemore and Knafl's updated approach to integrative reviews, PRISMA guidelines, and CASP checklists for narrative analysis were followed.

DATA SOURCES

A systematic search of published empirical literature from January 2010 to August 2020 was undertaken in six databases.

REVIEW METHODS

Fifty-one studies met the research question and the inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

Five themes describe the findings: Decolonizing Western perspectives on dementia, the centrality of cultural safety, caregivers' experiences, pre-dementia community education and family and community-centred care emerged from the thematic analysis. Most of the studies used quantitative methodologies, and few studies were conducted using community-based approaches.

CONCLUSION

This review shows that Indigenous caregiving represents an emerging field in nursing and health sciences in a context of a global crisis. Researchers need to focus on Indigenous values and voices to adapt care and support informal caregivers. Our review emphasizes that working with Indigenous communities will likely translate into new care delivery models, policies and practices to support Indigenous informal caregivers and address the specific social determinants impacting caregivers' roles and tasks.

IMPACT

This review highlights the necessity of having community and family-based discussions on enhancing the delivery of dementia care for Indigenous peoples in Canada and worldwide. Decolonizing Western perspectives of dementia translate into culturally safe approaches that aim to integrate Indigenous cultural perspectives of holism, reciprocity, wisdom, respect of older people and relationality into nursing practice. The support of Indigenous informal caregivers requires future studies to address the stigmatizing Western views of dementia.

The impact of the Arts and Dementia Program on short-term well-being in older persons with dementia from Singapore

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the impact of a locally developed Arts and Dementia Program on the short-term well-being of older persons with dementia in Singapore.

METHODS

Single-arm study with 21 persons with dementia. Behavioural tendencies and mood and engagement values were assessed using Dementia Care Mapping at baseline and during the program. The averaged mood and engagement value over the mapping period produced a well-/ill-being score for each person with dementia.

RESULTS

Well-/ill-being scores were significantly higher during the program compared to at baseline. The behavioural tendencies most frequently captured during the program were creative expression, reminiscence and leisure. In contrast, there were more eating or drinking behaviours during the baseline. Analyses revealed that the changes in occurrences of reminiscence, leisure, and eating or drinking behaviours across time were significant.

CONCLUSION

The present study suggests potential benefits of the Arts and Dementia Program in enhancing the well-being of persons with dementia.

An integrative review of empirical literature on indigenous cognitive impairment and dementia

AIMS

To synthesize research findings about Indigenous perspectives on cognitive impairment and dementia.

DESIGN

Whittemore and Knafl's updated approach to integrative review and PRISMA guidelines for narrative analysis was followed.

DATA SOURCES

A systematic search of the published literature from 2010-June 2020 was undertaken in four databases and complemented by supplementary searches.

REVIEW METHODS

Thirty-four studies met the research question and inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

Four themes describe the findings. Most of the studies were conducted by non-Indigenous researchers and may reflect Western perspectives on dementia rather than Indigenous views. A majority of the studies report epidemiological data or the testing of clinical tools.

CONCLUSION

The review indicates a dearth of knowledge about Indigenous perspectives on ageing and understanding of cognitive impairment and dementia. Researchers need to draw on Indigenous traditional knowledge, culture, and traditions through a meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities and Elders to indigenize and decolonize dementia care.

IMPACT

This integrative review highlights the need for community-led discussions and community engagement around Indigenous perspectives, needs, and understandings of ageing, cognitive impairment, and dementia care.

Indigenous and Traditional Visual Artistic Practices: Implications for Art Therapy Clinical Practice and Research

In this paper, we present a review of research on the role of traditional and indigenous forms of visual artistic practice in promoting physical health and psychosocial well-being, particularly as it relates to the discipline of art therapy. Using extant literature we present an overview of how art making has historically had a therapeutic role in human lives and how it can inform the modern interpretation and profession of art therapy. Thereafter, we provide a critical review of specific studies that reference traditional and indigenous art forms in art therapy in order to invite discussion, dialogue, and awareness of the role of the arts in human development and the therapeutic role of the arts. Gaps in research areas for further study are proposed. Implications for clinical practice including expanding the scope of traditional forms of creative self-expression and promoting an informed and respectful understanding of the role of these artforms in the profession of art therapy worldwide, are also discussed.