Creative Journeys Report 2019

Creative Journeys 43 residents and they were singing to each other, smiling and holding hands. She was more enthusiastic, a bit more alive in her face and dancing. (Stage one relative) We’ve had several people say, “…it was so nice to share this environment with my family member because I don’t see them in this environment at all, now.”. (Stage one arts facilitator) There were little pockets of people enjoying each other’s company. (Stage one arts facilitator) One resident was so excited about the Sinfonia Viva with Orchestras Live performance happening and of sharing the experience with his family member, that he phoned his daughter at 5am to remind her of the concert happening that day. Positive feedback was received from relatives and the audience in general after the performance and the arts facilitators also reflected positively on the day. I think it’s really nice to see. People getting into the spirit of what you’re trying to create. (Stage one arts facilitator) There were a couple of really nice, properly joyful moments. (Stage one arts facilitator) Furthermore, many relatives across the case studies were very keen for the arts activities to continue after they had ended. It also worth briefly noting that in stage one, the shared experience of the arts activities led to the arts facilitators and the residents also bonding and building a relationship, for example: I loved them both. I mean loved them. I really did. It used to make my day when I used to come up here and listen to them and they asked us to tell our stories. (Stage one resident) These findings in relation to a shared experience of the arts leading to bonding with people outside of the home, was reiterated in stage two. For example, volunteers who helped to run arts activities are also sharing an experience with the residents, which helps to connect them. Some of our volunteers have found good relationships with residents through information they have shared. (Survey respondent) Another example of particular interest in relation to this theme, comes from a home who organise a concert every so often in a local park to raise awareness in the wider community of people living with dementia. At this concert they organise for singers and musicians to perform, and attendees (members of the community and care home residents/staff) often dance together and carry out arts and crafts. The care manager at the home described plans for the next concert whereby they were intending to carry out what they termed a pebble project,