The idea behind this investigation of photographic research within Dementia treatment and relationships began with an interest of mine in phototherapy and therapeutic photography.
It is recognized that phototherapy and therapeutic photography are very related, however are two noticeably different techniques. Judy Weiser (2001-2012), one of the first pioneers of phototherapy and its use within a creative field explains, “Phototherapy techniques are therapy practices that use people's snap shots, family albums (and the feelings, thoughts, memories and associations these photos evoke) as catalysts to deepen insight and enhance communication during their therapy.”
Whereas Weiser (2001-2012) provided an explanation on therapeutic photography by proposing that, “photographic practices done by people themselves (or their helpers), in situations where the skills of a therapist are not needed – where photos are used to increase peoples own self knowledge, awareness and well being.”
[...] Available at:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21995708. [...]
[...] Can I speak to a collective memory through photographs that express my location in history and culture?” Martin (2012). However, new technologies also have an important role to play, “SenseCam is a wearable digital camera which captures an electronic record of the wearer's day. It does this by automatically recording a series of still images through its wide-angle lens, and simultaneously capturing a log of data from a number of built-in electronic sensors. Subsequently reviewing a sequence of images appears to provide a powerful autobiographical memory cue.” (2011) A preliminary evaluation of SenseCam with a patient diagnosed with severe memory impairment was extremely positive; periodic review of images of events recorded by SenseCam resulted in significant recall of those events. [...]
[...] Jo develops a photo diary style format using words and text to express and self-help, whilst suffering from cancer. Methods The method I will use in responding to the question: photography aid treatment, and maintenance of relationships, for those suffering with dementia?' will be to conduct an in depth analysis into two important fields of photographic work: namely, phototherapy and therapeutic photography by considering the work of established photographers and therapists in this field and using this knowledge to investigate whether photography can have a positive impact on the suffers of dementia. [...]
[...] I am going to carry out this mode of research to find out if phototherapy can aid treatment for those suffering with dementia and how. Family albums are known to help sufferers am immediately struck by how photography and memory relate in a poignant and perverse way, through a sense of loss, predicated upon the unconscious wish to somehow arrest the passage of time by holding it in fragments of a second. How much are the images from the past that I visualize in my mind's eye constructed and mediated through the few photographs that have survived in my family album? [...]
[...] Photo albums create a delusional positive outtake on life's true events and create an unrealistic view of attitudes of those involved in the event, making us feels that time or place was possibly an understatement of reality. I will be exploring whether photographs and phototherapy can help people with dementia stay close to loved ones. I will be considering whether photography aids memory recall for both sufferers and their families by reminding them of what been”. Research Question and Objective My research question is: Can photography aid treatment, and maintenance of relationships, for those suffering with dementia? [...]
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