Creative Journeys Report 2019

Creative Journeys 41 Well it gives us something to talk about when they come, because they didn’t know anything about the Green Candle until I described it to them. (Stage one resident) At the homes in stage one, it was evident that the activities coordinators were proactive in encouraging relatives to get involved with activities in order to have a conversation/connection with their residents; particularly those with cognitive impairment as it gave them something to do and/or to talk about when they visited. However, in some cases the family members were also proactive about coming along to sessions, and/or the performance, or watching and sharing with other family members the film produced by Age Exchange. My daughter plays it [the film] to everyone that comes to her house. She played it to them all… My little chest goes up, and my head goes up high. They say, “Look at her.”. (Stage one resident) The Sinfonia Viva with Orchestras Live performance in particular brought together local care homes including residents and staff, with relatives and other members of the local community which was considered very worthwhile. Furthermore, in some cases relatives actively encouraged their family member living in the participating care home to take part in the arts activities before they started as they recognised that it would be something of value and benefit to their loved one. In the survey and stage two interviews, arts activities were also felt to have an impact on communication between relatives and residents. For example, arts activities can help facilitate communication especially when this has begun to break down due to cognitive impairment. Where relatives find it difficult to communicate with their [next of kin], activities provides an opportunity for them to spend together without the awkwardness that can come when residents no longer recognise their loved one. (Survey respondent) Some of the survey respondents said that residents like to invite their families along when they have external arts practitioners come into the home, and these activities were then felt to increase their social interaction and communication. Likewise, when volunteers who come into the home (such as youth groups, Brownies, school children, volunteer musicians) join in arts activities with the residents, this was seen to promote conversations between them by providing a talking point. In the survey, 7/27 homes reported that they have regular volunteers facilitating arts activities, 15/27 homes reported having external practitioners facilitating activities, and 5/27 homes reported having relatives facilitate activities. One survey respondent said that having relatives facilitate arts activities in the home “brings families closer” and another stated that art “engages families and visitors” .