Health professionals’ experience of paintings as a conversation instrument: a communication strategy at a nursing home in Sweden

This study reported on health professionals’ experiences of visual art as a conversation tool with elderly persons. Series of reproductions of paintings with varying themes such as playing children were used to bring forth a variety of topics to be discussed. The results, measured with health professionals’ personal diaries, indicated positive experiences. Conversation related to paintings were regarded by health professionals as an instrument that could be used in a professional manner in nursing care for a meaningful community with the elderly person. The study presents recommendations on how health professionals could practice conversations to stimulate elderly persons to take an active part in the conversations.