The Arts and Dementia Care
UndergraduateTAS-FXA1002024
Course information for 2024 intake View information for 2025 course intake
Explore how music, dance, and theatre can improve the lives of people with dementia. You’ll review case studies and research for examples of creative activities. Think about your own arts program and how you can influence patients’ wellbeing.
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- No ATAR needed, No prior study
- Duration
- 14 weeks
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
The Arts and Dementia Care
About this subject
Upon successful completion of this subject, the student should be able to:
- Describe the nature and purposes of a range of arts-based interventions currently used in Dementia Care.
- Analyse how arts-based interventions can contribute to well-being, mood and cognitive processing for those living with dementia.
- Use basic research skills and critical facility in evaluation of case studies and resources.
- Apply formal and informal communication skills and self-reflection to engage in informed debate and complete a range of writing tasks.
- The Brain and Dementia
- Module 1: Music and Dementia Care
- Music and the brain
- Listening to music
- Music participation and singing
- Module 2: Visual Arts and Dementia Care
- Visual arts, the brain and art therapies
- Galleries and museums
- Participatory visual arts interventions
- Module 3: Theatre and Dance in Dementia Care
- Dramatherapy, dance therapy and applied theatre
- Theatre and play
- Benefits of dance and movement
Practical interventions employing arts-based activities, including music, theatre, dance and visual arts, are increasingly being employed nationally and internationally to improve mood and well-being, physical activity and cognitive processing for people with dementia. Arts-based programs have also been shown to have some capacity to enhance communication of emotions and relationships with carers. This subject will explore the evidence-based research on the benefits that can be conferred through the stimulation of sensory perception, reminiscence and subconscious movement using music, theatre and visual arts. These will be dealt with in three separate modules. Students will develop knowledge of the evidence-based literature for interventions employing music, theatre, dance and visual arts, and each module will also provide an introduction to key elements of successful program design and the range of activities that can be employed.
- Online Quizzes (30%)
- Research Assignment (20%)
- Essay (40%)
- Discussion Contribution (10%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
No entry requirements
Additional requirements
- Other requirements - Online learning including discussion boards, Zoom tutorials and webinars, and self-directed learning (approx. 8hrs weekly)
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
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What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
Diploma of Creative Arts and Health
UndergraduateTAS-CAH-DIP
Undergraduate Certificate in Creative Arts and Health
UndergraduateTAS-CAH-CTF
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