Abstract
This paper focuses on museum-oriented welfare activities for people with dementia. Research shows that the use of heritage objects has a positive correlation with their overall welfare. Due to the guidelines of the cultural heritage decree of February 24, 2017, and the rising cases of dementia in Flanders, heritage institutions have started developing museum-oriented welfare programs for people with dementia. Unfortunately, this practice is not yet well known. Of all acknowledged Flemish heritage institutions, only 27% currently offer a Dementia related welfare program. This research provides insight into the various barriers that the heritage and care sectors have been confronted with concerning these types of programs. To facilitate a solution, the heritage and care sectors were given a chance to meet in a focus group, to discuss the organisational problems with museum-oriented welfare programs. The results of this research indicate that interdisciplinary co-operation between the heritage and care sectors is desirable in order to optimise museum-oriented welfare programs, as well as the public’s knowledge of those programs. The same results can also be used to raise awareness for these welfare programs within the context of heritage, whose goal is to improve the well-being of people with dementia and their loved ones. In this work was examined which possible next steps can be taken to increase both the awareness and the general participation of the public.
Presenters
Julie MoorkensStudent, Master Conservation-Restoration, University of Antwerp , Antwerpen (nl), Belgium
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
DEMENTIA, HERITAGE, MUSEUM WELFARE ACTIVITIES
