Dramatherapy lends itself seamlessly to a person-centred approach, particularly important for elderly people who are nearing the end of their lives. The dramatherapy group affords a holding environment where existential issues and key life questions can be worked with creatively. Although their expression may sometimes seem chaotic (as in dementia), elderly people are often the guardians or holders of much end-of-life wisdom. By means of story, metaphor, play and improvisation, cultural questions and answers can assist with celebration, reminiscence, pleasure and grieving, and ultimately the transition to a dignified and spiritually meaningful death. In this way, the spirituality of the person with dementia can be explored and accepted.
Spirituality has informed theatre and drama throughout history, and the healing properties of the arts are referred to in the histories of many societies. In contemporary western culture, especially that of the last 50 years, there has been a growth of consciousness that creative activity can contribute to people's health and well-being and that the area of spirituality is integral, and perhaps even central, to psycho-social health and a sense of well-being.
In this paper, selected dramatherapy literature is reviewed, that supports the contention that the practice of these therapies is an effective means of assisting elderly people afflicted with moderate-to-severe dementia to value their ageing process. Arts therapies may assist them to cope with the grief and loss their ageing may entail, as they lose friends and physical and mental capacity, in a society where elderly people are marginalised.
Case studies and theoretical examples are presented to show how group work can be structured so that issues of elderly people with dementia can be addressed in a creative way.
Restricted accessOtherFirst published March, 2011pp. 1-3
