Participatory Arts: Reflections on the Benefits of Creativity-Based Interventions in Dementia Care

In this editorial, we present an overview of arts programs used in dementia care that have at their core the objectives of performing and creating art with people living with dementia. We look at the commonalities between leading arts programs and provide a case study of one such program conducted with elderly nuns at convents in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and articulate the potential benefits of these arts programs as worthy of pursuit and aligned with essential goals of intervention. We offer comments on the current state of relevant research in the United States and reflect on future directions for continued programming and study.