HEARTBRUSH PROGRAM
Family involvement.
A calm, creative pause for the loved ones supporting patients.
What
We believe families and loved ones also deserve a chance to destress, and we hope to provide them with that opportunity.
Why
While they may not be the ones in the hospital bed, they are often also struggling. Many relatives experience conditions or at least symptoms of disorders such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety, and Depression. When family members are in the hospital, they may experience spikes in cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, levels. Emotions can range from fear, to anger, to hopelessness. While the concern for a loved one will always exist, we want to create opportunities for family members to relax as well.
Evidence
Caregivers and family members are often affected by the pain their loved one is experiencing in the hospital, which means it is also possible for them to be helped by art. A study showed that “when collapsing intervention categories, stress was the most improved in 80% of the studies, anxiety in 69%, caregiver burden in 57%, and depressive symptoms in 31% of the studies.” This showed that art is multi-beneficial and can help those close to the patient in a vast variety of ways, and primarily improve their mental health.
How
We plan to provide simple art kits for waiting rooms, stocked with activities that can be done while visiting. These can be done while spending time with the patient, or while sitting in the waiting room.
Works Cited
Phillips, Carolyn S., et al. “Expressive Arts Interventions to Improve Psychosocial Well-Being in Caregivers: A Systematic Review.” Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, vol. 67, no. 3, 2024, pp. e229-e249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2023.11.026.