Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 23, 2026
06:16
Involving Individuals with Developmental Language Disorder and Their Parents/Carers in Research Priority Setting
Published on: June 6, 2020
4.6K
Participatory arts programs in residential dementia care: Playing with language differences
Aagje Swinnen1, Kate de Medeiros2
1Maastricht University, the Netherlands; University of Humanistic Studies, the Netherlands.
Dementia (London, England)
|September 15, 2017
Summary
Participatory arts programs like TimeSlips and the Alzheimer's Poetry Project leverage language differences to foster connection and agency in individuals with dementia. These spoken-word approaches support linguistic engagement and belonging in residential care settings.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Linguistics
- Arts in Healthcare
Background:
- Dementia care often overlooks the linguistic capabilities of individuals with cognitive decline.
- Participatory arts offer novel avenues for communication and social engagement in residential settings.
- Language is central to identity, cultural expression, and social negotiation, even with cognitive impairment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the role of language, identity, and cultural difference in participatory arts for dementia care.
- To analyze how language differences are utilized in spoken-word driven programs.
- To illustrate how specific art programs support the linguistic agency of people with dementia.
Main Methods:
- Ethnographic fieldwork in two Dutch nursing home wards.
- Analysis of two case vignettes focusing on participatory arts interventions.
- Theoretical framework integrating linguistic agency, homo ludens, ludic language, and belonging.
Main Results:
- Language differences can be transformed into tools for creative language play within art programs.
- Participatory arts, specifically TimeSlips and the Alzheimer's Poetry Project, facilitate linguistic agency.
- Individuals with dementia actively negotiate connection, belonging, and social dynamics through language use in these programs.
Conclusions:
- Participatory arts are effective in supporting the linguistic agency and social inclusion of people with dementia.
- Spoken-word art interventions can empower individuals with dementia, enabling them to express identity and foster belonging.
- Understanding the interplay of language, culture, and art is crucial for enhancing dementia care.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Dementia
597
Dementia is a collective term for cognitive disorders primarily affecting memory, thinking, and reasoning. It is not a specific disease but a syndrome, with Alzheimer's disease being the most common cause, accounting for approximately 60-80% of cases. Other types include vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. Dementia affects millions worldwide, particularly older adults, though it is not a normal part of aging.
The progression of dementia is generally gradual....
The progression of dementia is generally gradual....
597
01:19Restorative Care
2.4K
Restorative care is provided once a patient has been discharged from a healthcare facility and requires additional services. The additional services include home care, rehabilitation programs, and extended care. Restorative care centers help the patient regain their previous level of functioning or acquire a new level of functioning due to the incapacitating effects of a disease or a disability. It aims to assist patients in enhancing their quality of life by encouraging independence,...
2.4K
01:30Cognitive Development During Adulthood
962
Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...
962
01:10Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language
3.9K
Language is a system of communication that allows the expression of thoughts, ideas, and feelings. The brain processes language in both hemispheres.
Language formation and comprehension take place in the dominant hemisphere. The dominant hemisphere is responsible for understanding the meaning of spoken, written, or sign language, as well as the ability to communicate. For most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant one. The right hemisphere, then, gives tone and emotional context to the...
Language formation and comprehension take place in the dominant hemisphere. The dominant hemisphere is responsible for understanding the meaning of spoken, written, or sign language, as well as the ability to communicate. For most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant one. The right hemisphere, then, gives tone and emotional context to the...
3.9K
01:29Intellectual Disability
835
Intellectual disability (ID) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in intellectual and adaptive functioning that manifest during the developmental period. This condition encompasses challenges in reasoning, memory, problem-solving, and learning, accompanied by impairments in everyday life skills, such as communication, self-care, and social interactions. Intellectual disability affects approximately 1% of the population in the United States, impacting an estimated 5...
835
01:22Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment
1.1K
Alzheimer's Disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder, is pathologically identified by amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles composed of tau protein. AD pharmacotherapy aims to manage cognitive symptoms, delay disease progression, and treat behavioral symptoms. The treatment is primarily symptomatic and palliative, with no definitive disease-modifying therapy available. Cholinesterase inhibitors, including donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon), and galantamine (Razadyne), are...
1.1K