Case Study

This case study explores the benefits of group art therapy during 15 oneand a half-hour weekly sessions in a nursing home. The participants, all from middle class backgrounds, were Caucasian females with the exception of one African American male. Ranging in age from 72-95, all faced a variety of physical and cognitive challenges. In an effort to give all the participants a meaningful experience, the art as therapy approach presented a broad scope of art materials and skill level tasks. These well-received sessions focused on socialization, enhancing self-esteem, reminiscing, and creative decision making, while reinforcing manual and visual dexterity. A review of literature that discussed geriatric art therapy research, conclusions, recommendations and proposed future research are included. This case study determines that art therapy with the geriatric population has great promise as an alternative complementary therapy, worthy of further study and continued practice.