Taking Care of The Caregiver International Conference Haifa, Israel

1. TAKING CARE OF THE CARE GIVER:
Art as therapy in support groups for women
who function as the primary caregivers in the
rehabilitation process of their partners
recovering from a stroke/ brain injury.
Natalie Nachmani Shohat1,2, Bracha Azoulay1, Einat Shraga-Sharir2, Jean-Jacques Vatine2,3
1
Graduate Program in Visual Art Therapy, Lesley University Extension
Program, Netanya, Israel.
2
Outpatient Rehabilitation Center, Reuth Medical Center, Tel Aviv,
Israel.
1
3
Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

2. Reuth Medical Center
Our Vision, Our Future
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3. Reuth Medical Center
Our Vision, Our Future
 Vision:
Professional leadership in rehabilitation
and post - acute health care with the spirit of
‘Reuth’.
 Purpose:
Developing and providing medical service
in post - acute health care.
The guiding principles:
 To put the patient and his/her family in the center.
 Professional leadership and constantly striving for
excellence.
 Providing professional, personal and humane care.
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4. The Spirit of Reuth
“All have a right to respect and dignity.”
Reuth
•Founded 1936
•One of Israel’s oldest and largest non-profit organizations
•Specializing in healthcare and social welfare
Reuth Medical Center
•Founded 1961
•400-bed, state-of-the-art rehabilitation and chronic care public
facility
•Providing treatment to patients:
From throughout the country and overseas
Of all ages
From all religions and walks of life
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5. A Model for Successful Rehabilitation
Patients
• Adults, seniors, soldiers, veterans,
terror victims, babies, children, and
more are referred to Reuth after
treatment in acute care facilities.
Treatment
• Israel’s leading rehabilitation center
Customized Care • Public hospital treating patients from
• Individualized treatment programs all health care services.
• Family involvement encouraged • Affiliated to Sackler School of
Medicine, Tel Aviv University.
Staff
• 450 professionals
• 200 volunteers
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6. TAKING CARE OF THE CARE GIVER
:Purposes of study
• To understand how ‘art as therapy’
contributes in coping strategies for the
caregivers, distinguishing between
spouse and a hired caregiver.
• To understand the acclimatization to
change in the quality of life for the
primary caregiver.
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7. : Art as therapy
• Enables the participants to express their
experiences and emotions concerning the
changes in the marital relationship after the
injury.
• The study addressed the changes in family
structure pertaining to roles and
responsibilities and how they are expressed
through the arts.
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8. TAKING CARE OF THE CARE GIVER
Subjects:
6 women with a partner recovering from stroke/brain injury
and receiving rehabilitation treatment in the outpatient
department at Reuth Medical Center.
Inclusion criteria:
•Women who function as the primary caregivers during the
treatment in the outpatient rehabilitation department.
•Age 18 and up
•Speaking fluent Hebrew.
•No less than 3 months after the injury and at least one month
of living at home after the hospitalization.
Exclusion criteria:
•Blindness
•No less than one well functioning hand
•Severe speech disturbances
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9. TAKING CARE OF THE CARE GIVER
:Methodology
Participants met once a week for 1.5
hours for a period of 6 weeks.
Every session began as a group circle.
After presenting the session topic the
participants engaged in a 30-40 minutes of
creative time using various art materials.
Afterwards, participants had the opportunity to
share their experiences.
Questionnaires related to demography,
satisfaction and cognitive process were
recorded along with the contents raised during
9 the sessions.

10. TAKING CARE OF THE CARE GIVER
:Topics discussed
• Group acquaintance
• Sharing personal stories
• Dependency
• Expressing emotions
through images
• Finding inner Strength -
Positive Thinking
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11. TAKING CARE OF THE CARE GIVER
:The Setting
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12. TAKING CARE OF THE CARE GIVER
A3 paper, gouache paints and feathers
Participant’s thoughts:
“My life has become moments of highs and lows, but time
does not reflect their intensity"
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13. TAKING CARE OF THE CARE GIVER
A3 paper, gouache paints
Participant’s thoughts on dependency:
“Looking at the work I’ve created, I realize how I have
become dependent on my children and my grandchildren
since the event”
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14. TAKING CARE OF THE CARE GIVER
Clay and colored toothpicks
, Expressing emotions through images
:participant’s thoughts
” Sometimes I feel like I’m on a journey of obstacles “
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15. TAKING CARE OF THE CARE GIVER
clay
By working with the materials, the participant
was able to express the “crappy” difficult issues
that are part of being the primary caregiver.
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16. TAKING CARE OF THE CARE GIVER
Cardboard cutout puzzle, decorated with a variety of materials
The final session where each participant received
a part of the puzzle, symbolizing their part in the
16 group.

17. TAKING CARE OF THE CARE GIVER
:Results
•The art group therapy formulated for the
purpose of this study meets a primary
need.
•Addressing the spouses as caregivers
during the rehabilitation process
provided visibility, recognition and
emotional support.
•The setting provided a non-judgmental
environment which enabled the
participants to share their personal issues
and difficulties regarding the
rehabilitation process.
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18. TAKING CARE OF THE CARE GIVER
:Results • By the use of art,
participants were able to express
and unload their burdens and
issues which were difficult to
express verbally, enabling
spontaneous expressions.
• As a result of sharing a
common experience, participants
were exposed to different coping
strategies and were able to learn
from one another’s experience
and gain a sense of togetherness.
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19. TAKING CARE OF THE CARE GIVER
: Conclusions
• There is clear advantage in adding
expressive therapies as a standard
in the medical tool box.
• Addressing not only the patient but
also his familial environment is an
important step for the
reintegration of the disabled in the
community.
• A Rehabilitation Department
working fundamentally with a
holistic interdisciplinary approach is
a privileged place to develop the
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use of art as therapy.

20. In the Future
Looking forward to opening new support groups and to
make this program permanent in the rehabilitation
process supporting the primary caregivers.
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21. Reuth Medical Center
Our Vision, Our Future
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