Creative Journeys Report 2019

Creative Journeys 31 I think it was the general atmosphere. Watching other people really enjoying themselves…. I really love it. I really do…. It was so nice, as I say, just seeing the people from the [dementia unit] getting so much out of it. (Stage one resident) There were also cases in both stage one observations and interviews of residents supporting each other during the arts activities, such as modelling dance moves or encouraging participation from each other. If somebody wasn’t sure what they were doing, and they were next to someone who did they really helped each other, which was lovely… Then there was someone like [Gladys], who was, kind of, more encouraging people by being quite enthusiastic. So, she would get up and then other people would be like, “Oh, we could do that too,” and so she would encourage people in that more dynamic way. (Stage one arts facilitator) This was also mentioned in stage two where those interviewed felt that participating together in arts activities made residents more empathetic, understanding and helpful towards other residents who had less capacity. Furthermore, the survey respondents identified that arts opened an opportunity for residents to encourage and praise each other, and some residents who were not directly involved in the activity might still attend an arts or cultural event to support other residents. They appear to enjoy compliments within the peer group. (Survey respondent) On the carnival day all residents that are participating still love to come and watch. (Survey respondent) Our residents’ choir also has a great following from our non-participating residents. (Survey respondent) 4.2.4 Barriers to resident relationships Alongside these positive impacts of participatory arts on the social relationships between residents, there were also a number of barriers. For example, friendships that developed over the duration of a time-bound arts programme were not always able to continue beyond the activities, especially if the residents had physical or cognitive health issues and/or lived in separate units of the care home. Moreover, one of the care homes interviewed in stage two felt that their residents were in fact not very sociable and that this was increasingly the case. Years ago, we had residents coming in and they were sociable. I don’t know if it’s because they’re coming into the care setting later and their dementia’s progressed or- They’re just not very social, are they? (Stage two activities coordinator)