Creative Journeys Report 2019

Creative Journeys 25 4.2 Relationships between residents In residential care home settings, research suggests that older people find it difficult to establish meaningful interpersonal relationships with other residents (Drageset, Kirkevold and Espehaug, 2011). Although surrounded by other people, poor health and cognitive impairment may limit opportunities for residents to communicate and interact with the other residents they live with (Grenade and Boldy, 2008). In this study, the findings showed that participatory arts had an impact on the relationships between residents through enhancing communication, shared experiences, and social connectedness. 4.2.1 Communication Participatory arts enabled increased communication and interaction between residents, including bringing people together for a purpose, encouraging creativity and collaboration using both verbal and non-verbal forms of communication, and the activities themselves creating new topics of conversation. Indeed, survey respondents identified promoting interaction by bringing people together as a primary motivation for providing arts activities in their residential homes. Furthermore, the majority of survey respondents (23/27) believed that taking part in activities brought people together who would perhaps not normally have this opportunity, and this was a positive outcome of providing the activities. Arts activities stimulate the residents’ minds and bring people together to enjoy time together. (Survey respondent) Yes it brings together residents that would not normally choose to do other activities and builds friendships within the home. (Survey respondent) This was also evident in the stage one interviews where it was reported that the opportunity to communicate when residents came together for the arts activities was not limited to the time that the activities were on-going. Taking part in activities provided a platform for interaction and as a result of bringing people together, the residents met others who they might not have known before and would now greet each other in the corridor or communal rooms. It was nice to join with people, that perhaps you didn’t see all that often. (Stage one resident) They’ve learnt each other’s ways now. They feel comfortable with each other, so that means that when they go past each other they’ll say, “Hello.” They’ll communicate and say, “How was your day?” Rather than just walking by and going, “Oh hello” politely, there’s an interaction there between these people. (Stage one activities coordinator) Normally, if I sort of moved around the home, you go past people and you just smile. But, now we stop and say hello. We have a little chat. Yes, it has improved things. (Stage one resident)