回艺 (huí yì): Exploring artbased life review to support the relocation process for older adults with dementia in nursing homes
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1386/jaah_00011_1
Chaomin, Tan & Michael Koon Boon, Tan
Relocation to a nursing home can be a highly stressful process for older adults with dementia, yet programmes to support them are limited. This study developed an art-based life review programme (Project 回艺; huí yì) and examined its capability to support the process of relocation into the nursing home for older adults. The programme took place over six weeks with twelve older adults in two nursing homes. Each session comprised art-making and storytelling activities to create content that contributed to an individualized life review artbook. Data were gathered through qualitative interviews and observation of participants in sessions. Constant comparative analysis of qualitative data revealed three themes: empowering environment, identity reconstruction and personal biography. The three themes provide guidance for future art-based life review projects through a proposed practice framework.
Published by Michael Tan Koon Boon
Michael Tan’s research lies at the intersection of Art, Health and Wellbeing. As a leading advocate for arts and health development in Singapore, he has been active in promoting awareness for arts and health among stakeholders in the fields of arts, health and social care. He has developed and conducted art–health programs in various care settings in Singapore, such as the Singapore General Hospital, The National University Hospital and the Singapore Parkinson’s society. In recent years, Michael has broadened the scope of his practice to examine the role and benefit of art engagement in eldercare.
In 2012, Michael partnered with the Agency for Integrated Care to investigate the benefits of art engagement for residents in a local nursing home. He was recently engaged by the Alzheimer’s Disease Associate of Singapore to develop an integrated art making and museum visit program for its members. He also serves as a member of the art advisory committee in the new Ng Teng Fong Hospital.
Michael holds a PhD in Arts and Health from Durham University, a Masters in Photography & Urban Cultures from Goldsmith College, University of London, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He is also the recipient of the Singapore National Arts Council Post Graduate Scholarship (2012) and was awarded the Nanyang Award for Excellence in Teaching by NTU in 2011.
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Michael Tan Koon Boon 