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TAKING CARE OF THE CARE GIVER:
Art as therapy in support groups for women who function as the primary caregivers in the
rehabilitation process of their partners recovering from a stroke/ brain injury.
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Natalie Nachmani Shohat1,2, Bracha Azoulay1, Einat Shraga-Sharir2, Jean-Jacques Vatine2,3
1Graduate Program in Visual Art Therapy, Lesley University Extension Program, Netanya, Israel. 2Outpatient Rehabilitation Center, Reuth Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel. 3Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Reuth Medical CenterOur Vision, Our Future
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Reuth Medical CenterOur Vision, Our Future
Vision: Professional leadership in rehabilitation and post - acute health care with the spirit of ‘Reuth’.
Purpose: Developing and providing medical service in post - acute health care.
The guiding principles: To put the patient and his/her family in the center. Professional leadership and constantly striving for
excellence. Providing professional, personal and humane care.
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The Spirit of Reuth“All have a right to respect and dignity.”
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Reuth
•Founded 1936•One of Israel’s oldest and largest non-profit organizations•Specializing in healthcare and social welfare
Reuth Medical Center •Founded 1961•400-bed, state-of-the-art rehabilitation and chronic care public facility•Providing treatment to patients:
From throughout the country and overseas
Of all ages
From all religions and walks of life
A Model for Successful Rehabilitation
Patients• Adults, seniors, soldiers, veterans,terror victims, babies, children, and more are referred to Reuth after treatment in acute care facilities.
Customized Care• Individualized treatment programs• Family involvement encouraged
Treatment• Israel’s leading rehabilitation center• Public hospital treating patients from all health care services.• Affiliated to Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University.
Staff• 450 professionals• 200 volunteers
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Purposes of study:
• To understand how ‘art as therapy’ contributes in coping strategies for the caregivers, distinguishing between spouse and a hired caregiver.
• To understand the acclimatization to change in the quality of life for the primary caregiver.
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TAKING CARE OF THE CARE GIVER
Art as therapy :• Enables the participants to express their experiences and
emotions concerning the changes in the marital relationship after the injury.
• The study addressed the changes in family structure pertaining to roles and responsibilities and how they are expressed through the arts.
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Subjects: 6 women with a partner recovering from stroke/brain injury and receiving rehabilitation treatment in the outpatient department at Reuth Medical Center.
Inclusion criteria: •Women who function as the primary caregivers during the treatment in the outpatient rehabilitation department.•Age 18 and up•Speaking fluent Hebrew. •No less than 3 months after the injury and at least one month of living at home after the hospitalization.
Exclusion criteria: •Blindness•No less than one well functioning hand•Severe speech disturbances
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TAKING CARE OF THE CARE GIVER
Methodology:
Participants met once a week for 1.5 hours for a period of 6 weeks.
Every session began as a group circle. After presenting the session topic the
participants engaged in a 30-40 minutes of creative time using various art materials. Afterwards, participants had the opportunity to share their experiences.
Questionnaires related to demography, satisfaction and cognitive process were recorded along with the contents raised during the sessions.
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TAKING CARE OF THE CARE GIVER
Topics discussed:
• Group acquaintance• Sharing personal stories• Dependency• Expressing emotions through images• Finding inner Strength - Positive
Thinking
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TAKING CARE OF THE CARE GIVER
The Setting:
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TAKING CARE OF THE CARE GIVER
A3 paper, gouache paints and feathersParticipant’s thoughts:
“My life has become moments of highs and lows, but time does not reflect their intensity"
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TAKING CARE OF THE CARE GIVER
A3 paper, gouache paints
Participant’s thoughts on dependency:“Looking at the work I’ve created, I realize how I have become dependent on my
children and my grandchildren since the event”
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TAKING CARE OF THE CARE GIVER
Clay and colored toothpicks
Expressing emotions through images ,
participant’s thoughts:
“Sometimes I feel like I’m on a journey of obstacles ”
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TAKING CARE OF THE CARE GIVER
clay
By working with the materials, the participant was able to express the “crappy” difficult issues that are part of being the primary caregiver.
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TAKING CARE OF THE CARE GIVER
Cardboard cutout puzzle, decorated with a variety of materials
The final session where each participant received a part of the puzzle, symbolizing their part in the group.
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TAKING CARE OF THE CARE GIVER
Results:•The art group therapy formulated for the purpose of this study meets a primary need. •Addressing the spouses as caregivers during the rehabilitation process provided visibility, recognition and emotional support. •The setting provided a non-judgmental environment which enabled the participants to share their personal issues and difficulties regarding the rehabilitation process.
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TAKING CARE OF THE CARE GIVER
Results: • By the use of art, participants were able to express and unload their burdens and issues which were difficult to express verbally, enabling spontaneous expressions.
• As a result of sharing a common experience, participants were exposed to different coping strategies and were able to learn from one another’s experience and gain a sense of togetherness.
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TAKING CARE OF THE CARE GIVER
Conclusions :• There is clear advantage in adding expressive
therapies as a standard in the medical tool box. • Addressing not only the patient but also his familial
environment is an important step for the reintegration of the disabled in the community.
• A Rehabilitation Department working fundamentally with a holistic interdisciplinary approach is a privileged place to develop the use of art as therapy.
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TAKING CARE OF THE CARE GIVER
In the Future
Looking forward to opening new support groups and to make this program permanent in the rehabilitation process supporting the primary caregivers.
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Reuth Medical CenterOur Vision, Our Future
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