Towards a Purposeful Ending: A Study Exploring the Impact of Dramatherapy on the Quality of Life of People Suffering from Dementia

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of Dramatherapy on people suffering from dementia. The work was a small scale quantitative study carried out over 12 weeks comparing the experience of a Dramatherapy group with an activity group. The subjects lived in the same care home and were randomly assigned to the groups. Audits assessing quality of life measures were carried out at regular intervals.

The study found that the clients receiving Dramatherapy showed significant improvements in quantitative measures of attentiveness and engagement compared with those taking part in the activity group. The results identified a cumulative benefit which suggests increasingly positive outcomes for longer term Dramatherapy.