Aesthetic deprivation : the role of aesthetics for older patients in hospital

Abstract

While arts have been integral to all cultures, it is a relatively recent research phenomenon to explore and examine the association between arts and health and well-being (Johnson and Stanley, 2007). This research centres on the concept that aesthetics, the arts and culture are important for well-being and that hospitals may be aesthetically deprived environments. The research area of interest is the experience of older patients in acute hospital regarding aesthetics before, during and after hospital stay.