What can we learn from play? A comparative analysis of creative play and ‘playing along’ in dementia care environments

In this article, I explore play in dementia care settings, specifically two types: creative play (play that engages creativity and imagination) and ‘playing along’. Acknowledging debates on truth-telling in dementia care, I consider how engagement-focused approaches in dementia contexts employ play to encourage connection, communication and care. To do so, I explore the work of researchers and applied theatre creatives in two projects, the Playful Engagement and Dementia Project and TimeSlips, alongside the communication strategy validation therapy. Considering the relational qualities and use of play in all three, I ask whether, in dementia care settings, embracing the flexible way in which play deals with the divide between fiction and reality can, without harm, address the needs of individuals living with dementia.