Abstract: Holidays could not simply be a chance for recreation, they could additionally present psychological and general well being advantages.
Supply: Edith Cowen College
Many people may have seemingly heard of music remedy and artwork remedy — however what about ‘journey remedy’?
A brand new cross-disciplinary paper from Edith Cowan College (ECU) proposes we alter the best way we view tourism, seeing it not simply as a leisure expertise however as an business that may present actual well being advantages.
The collaboration between ECU’s Centre for Precision Well being and Faculty of Enterprise and Regulation discovered many features of happening vacation may have a constructive influence on these with psychological well being points or situations.
Lead researcher Dr Jun Wen stated the varied group of tourism, public well being and advertising and marketing consultants investigated how tourism may benefit these residing with dementia.
“Medical consultants can suggest dementia therapies akin to music remedy, train, cognitive stimulation, memory remedy, sensory stimulation and diversifications to a affected person’s mealtimes and atmosphere,” Dr Wen stated.
“These are all additionally usually discovered when on holidays.
“This analysis is among the many first to conceptually talk about how these tourism experiences may doubtlessly work as dementia interventions.”
Vacation enjoyable… or remedy?
Dr Wen stated the various nature of tourism meant there have been many alternatives to include therapies for situations akin to dementia.
For instance, being in new environments and having new experiences may present cognitive and sensory stimulation.
“Train has been linked to psychological wellbeing and travelling usually includes enhanced bodily exercise, akin to extra strolling,” Dr Wen stated.
“Mealtimes are sometimes totally different on vacation: they’re normally extra social affairs with a number of folks and family-style meals have been discovered to positively affect dementia sufferers’ consuming behaviour.
“After which there’s the fundamentals like contemporary air and sunshine rising vitamin D and serotonin ranges.
“The whole lot that comes collectively to signify a holistic tourism expertise, makes it simple to see how sufferers with dementia could profit from tourism as an intervention.”
A shift in considering
Dr Wen stated COVID-19’s influence on journey lately had raised questions on tourism’s worth past life-style and financial elements.
“Tourism has been discovered to spice up bodily and psychological wellbeing,” he stated.
“So, after COVID, it’s a great time to establish tourism’s place in public well being — and never only for wholesome vacationers, however susceptible teams.”
Dr Wen stated he hoped a brand new line of collaborative analysis may start to look at how tourism can improve the lives of individuals with numerous situations.
“We’re making an attempt to do one thing new in bridging tourism and well being science,” he stated.
See additionally
“There must be extra empirical analysis and proof to see if tourism can turn out to be one of many medical interventions for various ailments like dementia or despair.
“So, tourism isn’t just about touring and having enjoyable; we have to rethink the position tourism performs in fashionable society.”
About this psychology and psychological well being analysis information
Creator: Sam Jeremic
Supply: Edith Cowen College
Contact: Sam Jeremic – Edith Cowen College
Picture: The picture is within the public area
Unique Analysis: Closed entry.
“Tourism as a dementia remedy based mostly on constructive psychology” by Jun Wen et al. Tourism Administration
Summary
Tourism as a dementia remedy based mostly on constructive psychology
No analysis in tourism or medication has addressed the potential relationship between journey and the medical remedy of dementia. Given tourism’s more and more vital position in society, a cross-disciplinary group of tourism and dementia consultants present perception into the potential advantages of tourism for people with dementia.
This conceptual effort critically opinions the tourism and dementia literature and addresses pertinent data gaps. Tourism is introduced as a potential manner to enhance dementia sufferers’ well-being as an adjunct to non-pharmacological interventions.
Accordingly, a conceptual framework is proposed to spotlight the nexus between tourism experiences and dementia interventions.
Future interdisciplinary analysis instructions are additionally described.
