Expressive puppetry in hospice care

Area of Science:

• Palliative Care
• Gerontology
• Creative Arts Therapies

Background:

• Improving cancer and illness treatments necessitate hospice evolution.
• Hospices must adapt end-of-life care programs to include chronic illness management.
• Maintaining relevance in end-of-life care requires program development for non-terminal diagnoses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore innovative modalities for hospice care.
• To assess the impact of Expressive Puppetry on dementia patient quality of life.
• To identify strategies for hospice program development in chronic illness care.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of Expressive Puppetry within a hospice setting.
• Qualitative assessment of patient engagement and response to puppetry.
• Observation of changes in the quality of life for dementia patients.

Main Results:

• Expressive Puppetry demonstrated a positive impact on patient quality of life.
• The modality provided an accessible means of expression for dementia patients.
• Hospice staff observed improved patient mood and interaction during sessions.

Conclusions:

• Expressive Puppetry offers a viable method to improve dementia patient care in hospices.
• Hospices can enhance their services by integrating creative arts modalities.
• Adapting programs for chronic illnesses, like dementia, is crucial for hospice relevance.