Executive Summary 2019

6 Executive Summary The findings across both stages of the research demonstrate the range and extent of arts activities in residential care homes, the impacts those arts activities have on the social relationships of the older people who lived there, and the mediating factors that facilitate or impede those impacts, and issues around sustainability. Enhanced relationships between residents Participatory arts had an impact on the relationships between residents through enhancing communication, shared experiences, and social connectedness. • Communication and interactions between residents were enhanced through bringing people together for a purpose, encouraging creativity and collaboration, and also creating opportunities for new topics of conversation. • The activities enabled residents to share past experiences and discover shared interests and histories, but also to share new experiences. We got on quite well with one another, I think. We understood one another. They all had their stories to tell, and to me they were interesting. (Stage one resident) • Residents felt socially connected with others through collective enjoyment and camaraderie, building a shared group identity. Enhanced relationships between residents and staff Participatory arts also had an impact on the social relationships between residents and staff again through enhancing communication and shared experiences, but also through changing the dynamics of the relationship by facilitating reciprocity. • Residents became more informal and confident in their interactions with staff and the activities enabled new topics of conversation to develop through sharing experiences together and learning about individuals’ interests and skills. You get to learn so much information about their life, and what their story is. I think that helps when you’re giving their care. So, you understand things more. It does influence how you perceive and give their personal care… because you’ve learnt so much about them in previous activities which is lovely . (Stage two staff member) • Staff members also reported how they learnt new relational skills or techniques from the arts facilitator’s approaches to the residents. Key Findings