Creative Journeys Report 2019

36 Creative Journeys Similarly, throughout the Green Candle sessions, various interactions between staff members and residents were observed such as stroking each other’s faces and tickling each other with feathers during partner working, and laughing together at the shimmying movements. It was also noticed that staff members in the Sinfonia Viva with Orchestras Live sessions were frequently encouraging residents who were not engaging, singing to them, holding hands and helping them to keep the beat, and dancing with them during the final performance. This physical contact is important in that the use of touch in the care of older people is usually instrumental – used for a purpose such as helping people to wash or to dress. In the situations described above touch is at a more personal level and suggests a relationship beyond the carer-cared for role discussed further in the next section. 4.3.3 Changing dynamics The arts activities represented something new and different and distinct from other activities, that brought residents and staff together, but was particularly something that residents could relate to, for example music from their past that younger staff members perhaps had little knowledge about. Also, the fact that both staff and residents were learning something new together in the arts activities allowed for resident/staff relationships to be on a more equal footing in a reciprocal relationship rather than one where the residents were dependent on the staff. Creativity is about giving. It is about receiving but it’s also about giving. I think one of the things that we regard as being the danger in mental health for older people is that when you take away their capacity to give and they’re institutionalised, you create the first step towards depression and isolation. So creativity is, yes, it can be one on one, but it’s actually a communal thing as well. I think that’s really important and reminiscence so often is when you encourage people to reminisce, to share their story, they are actually giving of themselves and they are empowered through that process. (Arts organisations focus group) In some cases, the arts activities allowed for residents to contribute more to relationships with staff members, by teaching them about things they were knowledgeable about which the staff were not. For example, some staff members learnt about classical music from residents, or learnt about things that happened in times before they were born. Through residents sharing their knowledge and skills meant that they were contributing to their relationships with staff and family members and felt valued for that contribution. Familiar songs, pictures and objects were often used to stimulate engagement as residents already had memories of these things that they could share in the group. Oh yes. Oh anything where I knew the words, yes. (Stage one resident) I’ve got to know [activities coordinator] better actually. (Stage one resident)