Creative Journeys Report 2019

12 Creative Journeys health and well-being of older people. However, the review did illuminate a substantial portfolio of programmes and initiatives using different art forms in different settings that are engaging older people in participatory arts which indicated positive impacts on social relationships. Some of the literature made explicit reference to the impact of participatory arts on the social isolation of older people, but there was little mention of loneliness as an issue to be addressed. Importantly the literature highlighted that participatory arts can present different representations of older people, ageing and life transitions, demonstrating older people’s capacity to be creative and to challenge negative age-related stereotypes. To build on the existing evidence the study was designed with a specific aim to explore the role of the participatory arts in relation to developing social relationships in care home settings and between care homes and the wider community. In addition the research design sought to address a gap in understanding related to the mediating factors that enable or otherwise the building of positive relationships.