Creating connections to life during life-threatening illness: creative activity experienced by elderly people and occupational therapists.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to discover and characterize components of engagement in creative activity as occupational therapy for elderly people dealing with life-threatening illness, from the perspective of both clients and therapists. Despite a long tradition of use in clinical interventions, key questions remain little addressed concerning how and why people seek these activities and the kinds of benefits that may result.


METHODS
Qualitative interviews were conducted with 8 clients and 7 therapists participating in creative workshops using crafts at a nursing home in Sweden. Analysis of the interviews was conducted using a constant comparative method.


RESULTS
Engaging in creative activity served as a medium that enabled creation of connections to wider culture and daily life that counters consequences of terminal illness, such as isolation. Creating connections to life was depicted as the core category, carried out in reference to three subcategories: (1) a generous receptive environment identified as the foundation for engaging in creative activity; (2) unfolding creations-an evolving process; (3) reaching beyond for possible meaning horizons.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that the domain of creative activity can enable the creation of connections to daily life and enlarge the experience of self as an active person, in the face of uncertain life-threatening illness. Ultimately, the features that participants specify can be used to refine and substantiate the use of creative activities in intervention and general healthcare.
la Cour
Karen
K
Karolinska Institutet, Neurotec Department, Division of Occupational Therapy, Huddinge, Sweden. boch.la.cour@mail.dk
Josephsson
Staffan
S
Luborsky
Mark
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003405:Creativity; D005260:Female; D005610:Freedom; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009735:Nursing Homes; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000145:classification / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D010166:Palliative Care; D012649:Self Concept; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D019452:Terminally Ill / Q000523:psychology*