Art for Institutionalized Elderly

Abstract

AbstractInstitutionalized elderly often lack stimulating and creative activity. An eight-week textile art education intervention introduced an activity that encouraged learning new skills and applying them in an individual and creative manner to fabric painting.To evaluate the intervention's effectiveness, data were gathered from two interview schedules; one administered to nursing home staff, the other to residents. The sample of forty-nine residents, twenty-six of whom participated in art classes, was drawn from three nursing homes in Lawrence, Kansas.Results indicate social interaction improved significantly and the quality of art work produced by the majority of participants improved over the course of instruction.The study suggests that arts programming in nursing homes contributes to social well-being and provides opportunities for learning new forms of creative expression.