Graduate Thesis Or Dissertation
 

HarperElizabethA2007add.pdf

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https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/zc77sv333

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  • Educators and other individuals within the long term care continuum along with current gerontological researchers call for consideration of quality of life factors related to aging. Optimal aging applies to physical health, as well as cognitive and socio-emotional health. Each is imperative to a quality of life, specifically in long term care settings. Aristotle suggests that eudaemonics or a state of happiness, is revealed at end of life and constitutes a life well lived. Research reveals factors related to optimal wellbeing remain unrealized by many residents in the long term care system. The large number of baby boomers yet to embark on their elder journeys further exacerbates this deficiency. The resources that will be required for the care of our elder baby boomers are of great concern not only to elders, but also to family members, gerontologists, researchers and educators. Thus, exploration of new and innovative programs within long term care may address this increasing population. One such tool is therapeutic dramatics, or theatre utilized as an activity within the activity programs in the long term care continuum. The effective utilization of selected theatre techniques can augment current activity programs while simultaneously providing therapeutic engagement through communication. Consequently, by application of theatre as communicative action, improvements in connectivity between residents, health care professionals and family members may improve. This action can reveal the level of eudaemonic wellbeing that a resident is experiencing and provide a measurement device for subsequent research as well as enhance communication through cognitive and socio-emotional exercises. This can lead to optimal aging and ensures quality of life factors go beyond rudimentary levels. In short, the revitalization of activity programs, and the delivery of academic information to professionals within the long term care environs, will benefit elders.
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