Creative Dementia: Engaging People Living with Dementia with the Creative Arts

This handbook examines why, how and where creative arts can help meet the social, psychological and occupational needs of people living with dementia and their family carers.

Bringing together case studies of music, dance, poetry, digital arts and more, this book explores the core skills needed to co-create inspiring programmes in various settings. Foregrounding the lived experience of people living with dementia and their carers, each chapter showcases best practice, person-centred approaches, core learning points and online resources.

Full of expert information and clear practical guidance, this book is essential reading for students, early career and experienced practitioners seeking to improve health and wellbeing for people living with dementia.

Maria Parsons is the Chief Executive of Creative Dementia Arts Network (CDAN). She has written widely about dementia care and presented at conferences all over the world. Maria was a member of the editorial group of the Journal of Dementia Care for twenty-one years and continues to serve on the Advisory Group. She lives in Bristol.

Richard Coaten is a registered dance movement psychotherapist (RDMP) with the Association for Dance Movement Psychotherapy and is a national and international specialist in non-verbal, movement and dance-based practices with people living with dementia. He is on the editorial board of the peer-reviewed international journal Dementia and sits on the Board of the Creative Dementia Arts Network. He lives in West Yorkshire.