title: Art in Alzheimer's care: promoting well-being in people with late-stage Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the responses of people with late-stage Alzheimer's disease (AD) to a creative bonding intervention (CBI). The CBI consisted of simple art activities. Guided by Reed's self-transcendence theory, research questions were "Will persons with late-stage AD show evidence of self-transcendence during the CBI?" and "Will persons with late-stage AD show evidence of well-being during the CBI?" Twelve CBI sessions, documented by videotape and field notes, were conducted with four participants. Themes emerged within two clusters: trusting/thirsting/following and choosing/connecting/reminiscing. An overarching category of "cocooning" described participants' world during the CBI as they displayed evidence of self-transcendence and well-being. The CBI is a strategy that can be implemented by staff families, and volunteers. Nurses are positioned to provide transformation leadership for implementation of creative approaches during care of people with late-stage AD, but administrative and financial support are needed.
authors.affiliation: Barry University College of Health Sciences, Division of Nursing, Miami Shores, FL, USA. swalsh@mail.barry.edu
authors.forename: Sandra M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Ann R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Lamet
authors.forename: Carolyn L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lindgren
authors.forename: Pam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rillstone
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Little
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Steffey
authors.forename: Sharon Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Rafalko
authors.forename: Rosanne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sonshine
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000451:nursing* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D016294:Models, Nursing; D036301:Qualitative Research; D019145:Rehabilitation Nursing / Q000379:methods*