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. 2021 Dec 17;5(Suppl 1):566. doi: 10.1093/geroni/igab046.2174

Online Dignity Therapy and Photo Collages: The Narratives of Israeli and Italian Older Adults in the COVID-19 Era

Shoshi Keisari 1, Talia Elkarif 2, Giada Mola 3, Ines Testoni 4, Silvia Piol 5
PMCID: PMC8680658

Abstract

The social isolation imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic has significantly affected older adults, and has impacted both their physical and mental health. The pandemic has led to an increase in ageism associated with poorer mental health and a lower sense of dignity, self-esteem and contribution to society. This cross-cultural study involved 24 participants from Italy and Israel aged 79 to 92. The aim was to develop a brief art-based online intervention to enhance the participants’ sense of dignity and sense of meaning in life during this time of crisis. The process focused on the creation of digital photo-collages that captured the participants’ values through three perspectives: their past experiences, legacy, and future perspectives. It employed an arts-based research methodology to explore the participants’ experiences by analysing their relationship with the artistic expression, the photo collage, and its creative process.


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