Visual Communication to Improve Relationship Quality in Spousal Caregivers of Individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 96-111
Author(s):  
Nola Freeman
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Relationship Quality ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Art Therapy ◽  
Visual Communication ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Spousal Caregivers ◽  
Positive Interactions ◽  
Couple Dynamics

The study investigated the effectiveness of an art therapy intervention in improving relationship quality of spousal caregivers and their spouses with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Two single case studies were conducted, each composed of a caregiver and spouse with AD. Intervention consisted of three art therapy sessions based on visual communication, or the mutual creation of artwork. Relationship quality was measured throughout the study using clinical notes, pretest and posttest, and caregiver daily reports of positive interactions with their spouse. Couple dynamics were found to influence how positively each art therapy directive was viewed; however, both caregivers noted valuing art therapy interventions for providing recreation and socialization. The intervention resulted in increased positive interactions in both case studies.

Visual Communication to Improve Relationship Quality in Spousal Caregivers of Individuals With Alzheimer's Disease

2019 ◽  
pp. 59-76
Author(s):  
Nola Freeman
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Relationship Quality ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Art Therapy ◽  
Visual Communication ◽  
Spousal Caregivers ◽  
Positive Interactions ◽  
Couple Dynamics ◽  
Therapy Interventions

The study investigated the effectiveness of an art therapy intervention in improving relationship quality of spousal caregivers and their spouses with Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Two single case studies were conducted, each composed of a caregiver and spouse with AD. Intervention consisted of three art therapy sessions based on visual communication, or the mutual creation of artwork. Relationship quality was measured throughout the study using clinical notes, pretest and posttest, and caregiver daily reports of positive interactions with their spouse. Couple dynamics were found to influence how positively each art therapy directive was viewed; however, both caregivers noted valuing art therapy interventions for providing recreation and socialization. The intervention resulted in increased positive interactions in both case studies.

Piano playing in Alzheimer's disease: Longitudinal study of a single case

Neurocase ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 459-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
William W. Beatty ◽  
Clara L. Rogers ◽  
Rubin L. Rogers ◽  
Shelley English ◽  
Julie A. Testa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Piano Playing

P2-231: Bringing art to life: An intergenerational service learning course and visual art therapy intervention for college students, persons with Alzheimer's disease and dementia, and caregivers

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (7S_Part_12) ◽  
pp. P581-P581
Author(s):  
Daniel C. Potts ◽  
Keisha D. Carden ◽  
Emily Broman ◽  
Jacquelynn Myrick ◽  
Sydney Gately ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Art Therapy ◽  
Visual Art ◽  
Therapy Intervention

scholarly journals Clinical Lifestyle Medicine Strategies for Preventing and Reversing Memory Loss in Alzheimer’s

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 391-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulina Shetty ◽  
Wes Youngberg
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Treatment Guidelines ◽  
Memory Loss ◽  
Current Approach ◽  
Metabolic Parameter ◽  
Lifestyle Medicine ◽  
Underlying Causes

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and currently affects over 5 million Americans and 30 million individuals worldwide. Unfortunately, the current approach to treating AD provides nothing more than a marginal, unsustained, symptomatic effect, with little or no effect on disease progression itself. To attain effective improvements in AD, one must determine risk factors, address the underlying causes, and focus on a combination of functional and lifestyle medicine strategies that provide a comprehensive, programmatic, and network-based approach that is sufficient to achieve epigenetic transformation and neurologic healing through its multiple and necessary synergistic components. Rather than normalizing metabolic parameters, the focus is on optimization of each metabolic parameter. Papers published by research neurologist, Dr Dale Bredesen have documented that symptoms of mild cognitive impairment and early AD may often be reversed within 6 months after initiating a comprehensive, functional and lifestyle medicine-focused program. The purpose of this article are as follows: 1. Shed light on a promising clinical protocol that focuses on a comprehensive functional and lifestyle medicine approach to treating mild cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease; 2. Identify the Bredesen Protocol testing, diagnostic and treatment guidelines; 3. Review several case studies and discuss the promising results of the program. Although published case studies such as those reported here are relatively few, clinicians applying these comprehensive strategies have reason to expect improvement in their patients. Lifestyle medicine can be a source of greatly needed hope for those suffering with cognitive decline.

Impact of Behavioural Problems on Spousal Caregivers: A Comparison between Alzheimer’s Disease and Frontotemporal Dementia

2006 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjolein E. de Vugt ◽  
Samantha R. Riedijk ◽  
Pauline Aalten ◽  
Aad Tibben ◽  
John C. van Swieten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Frontotemporal Dementia ◽  
Spousal Caregivers ◽  
Behavioural Problems

EMMA: Art Therapy Illustrating Personal and Universal Images of Loss

1992 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 259-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Mango
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Art Therapy ◽  
Psychiatric Ward ◽  
Medical Unit

This case study examines a body of art work produced by Emma, a geriatric client admitted to a psychiatric ward for what appeared to be symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. On the ward, Emma attended art therapy groups, where she spontaneously created metaphors of loss. Her art work showed many similarities to art work produced by cancer patients. After a three-month stay on the psychiatric ward, Emma was diagnosed with cancer of the liver. She was transferred to a medical unit where she died three weeks later. Emma produced all her art work before she was diagnosed with cancer. This article presents evidence that Emma unconsciously knew she was dying, and independently worked on issues of her own death through her art work.

Are there Sex Differences in Emotional and Biological Responses in Spousal Caregivers of Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease?

2004 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 319-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russel (Trey) L. Thompson ◽  
Sharon L. Lewis ◽  
Margaret R. Murphy ◽  
Jennifer M. Hale ◽  
Paula H. Blackwell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Muscle Tension ◽  
Cell Number ◽  
Coping Resources ◽  
Spousal Caregivers ◽  
Activated T Cells ◽  
Biological Responses

The purpose of this study was to compare emotional and biological responses of men and women who are spousal caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Quality-of-life measurements, bioinstrumentation data, and immunophenotype assessments were obtained from female and male spousal caregivers of patients with AD. Spousal caregivers (women, n = 45 with average age 69.7; men, n = 16 with average age 71.4 years) completed questionnaires that assessed psychosocial variables. Blood was drawn and lymphocyte subsets (including natural killer [NK] cell number) were determined using flow cytometry. The degree of relaxation was determined measuring muscle tension (EMG) in the frontalis and trapezius muscles, skin conductance, skin temperature, and heart rate. Male spousal caregivers, as compared to female spousal caregivers, had significantly lower levels of stress, depression, caregiver burden (subjective), anxiety, anger-hostility, and somatic symptoms and higher levels of mental health, sense of coherence, NK cell number, and social and physical functioning. There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups in social support, coping resources, or T, T suppressor, or activated T cells. Women had more T helper cells and fewer NK cells than men. Men had fewer manifestations of a physiological stress response, as indicated by bioinstrumentation parameters. Unique sex-specific issues need to be considered when strategies are implemented to assist the increasing number of caregivers as our society ages.

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