A Study on Integrity of Life Experience of the Community-Dwelling Elderly in the Expressive Arts Group Counseling

• Main Authors: Pei-Chi Chen, 陳佩琪
• Other Authors: Bao-Lien Hung
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2011
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/54851464551700149228

碩士 === 國立臺中教育大學 === 諮商與應用心理學系碩士班 === 99 === The study aims to explore the experiences of community-dwelling elderly, who participated in expressive arts group, in their feelings and integrity of life experience. The study adopted hermeneutic phenomenology approach of qualitative methods. Six members who participated fully in the expressive arts group were interviewed in this study. The results were summarized as below: 1.The feelings of the community-dwelling elderly who participated the expressive arts group counseling were changed phase by phase. In the initial phase, they worried about creating. Afterward they tried hard to make concrete creation, and then became enjoying creative activities, having more security, pleasure and satisfaction. At the final phase, they cared about their performance and evaluated it by themselves. 2.The factors influence the involvement of the elderly in the expressive arts group include the physical restrictions, shock of new experience, anxiety of performance, and the influence of companions and leader. Most importantly, the relationship with companions and leader was the key point to encourage the elderly to involve in the creative activities. 3.To involve the expressive arts group has it function and value for the community-dwelling elderly. In the process of creating, the social connection and interaction increased, empowered through the process of creation, memories in their life were reviewed and preserved, and most importantly, their energy and power was aroused. 4.Reminiscence and experience restructuring, aging adjustment, and prepare for the death were the three main issues of the integrity experience for the community-dwelling elderly. (1)The important themes of life review of the elderly were family life, memories for generation, personal achievements and health, the unresolved business, and experience reconstruction. (2)Part of the elderly was prepared for aging and had some strategies for later life. They took care of themselves, paid attention to their health, and be supported by their faith. (3)The community-dwelling elderly took different attitudes to death. Some understood the necessity of death and had fully preparation. Some realized that life is short so they chose to seize the day. The results found in this study and suggestions could be a guidance for who provide service to the community-dwelling elderly, for carrying out the expressive arts group, and for future researches.