What are the Experiences of Family Caregivers Participating in an Arts-based (Collage) Intervention? A Secondary Analysis

Abstract

Current social and demographic trends include a shift toward an elderly population, an increase in life expectancy and an increase in chronic disease, all of which contribute to increased care needs. Family members are depended upon to take on the caregiving role for those with physical or functional limitations. As a result of the stressors associated with the caregiving role, many caregivers experience caregiver burden, which is the negative impact upon caregivers’ physical, emotional, financial, and social lives. Arts-based interventions demonstrate potential as an innovative method to alleviate stress and contribute to improved quality of life and well-being for family caregivers. The purpose of this paper-based thesis was to first investigate what is presently known in the literature about arts-based interventions, commonly used arts-based interventions, and the benefit of arts-based interventions for family caregivers and for older persons. This was accomplished through a literature review. Second, I completed a secondary analysis to explore if family caregivers experienced therapeutic benefit from participating in an arts-based intervention, collage-making. Using Interpretive Description, I analyzed seventeen workshop evaluation surveys that elicited family caregivers’ experiences from a collage-making workshop. Findings from this research study revealed that family caregivers valued the socialization benefit of the workshop, they indicated the need for respite care to support them in their role, and they increased their awareness of available resources in the community. These findings provide valuable insight for clinicians, researchers, policy-makers, and family caregivers. The knowledge can help health professionals be more mindful to family caregivers’ needs for support and the importance of socializing with other caregivers, and provides indication for future research to explore other types of arts-based activities that are flexible to caregivers’ busy schedules.