Challenges and enablers for creative arts practice in care homes

Abstract

This article reports on the experiences of artists working in UK care homes across residencies that focused on poetry, dance and drama. Data were collected from reflective diaries and focus group discussions to explore the key challenges when working in settings that can be unfamiliar, complex and disruptive. We also describe a range of strategies that artists developed in response to these challenges (enablers) and how this supported successful delivery of their sessions. We conclude that artists need time and support to understand and adapt to the complexity of care homes, and conclude that ultimately the overarching culture of a care home is the key determinant of how successfully artists can facilitate the engagement of residents with meaningful creative activities. Experience of working with people living with dementia can be particularly valuable, as can knowing how to facilitate participation by residents with a range of sensory, physical and cognitive impairments.

Supporting creative ageing through the arts: the impacts and implementation of a creative arts programme for older people

“…It is hoped that these meetings can prevent some of the challenges that artists experienced in several settings, such as groups that are too large, disruption of sessions, unsuitable rooms and insufficient support from staff. Similar challenges have previously been reported by artists working in care homes (Evans et al, 2019a).…”

“…Arts-based activities have become an increasingly popular intervention for older people in a range of settings, and a growing number of artists are developing the skills needed to adapt their practice to settings that can be unpredictable and complex (Evans et al, 2019a). More and more UK care homes are offering opportunities to participate in meaningful activities for their estimated 500,000 residents, with the overarching aim of providing "emotional, creative, intellectual and spiritual stimulation" (National Institute of Health and Care Excellence, 2013).…”

The role of collaborative working between the arts and care sectors in successfully delivering participatory arts activities for older people in residential care settings

“…The findings of this study resonate with both Clark (2014) and Evans et al (2019) but also identified that the Activities Co-ordinators play a key role in overcoming this challenge. In the introduction we outlined the skills required by the Activities Co-ordinator and from the data, we identified how these skills were utilised in the programme delivery, including: organising the home and the room where the activity would happen, ensuring residents were ready and able to join the group and communicating with the residents, other members of staff and the Arts Facilitators.…”

“…Clark (2014) explored the challenges of good integrated working between the arts and care settings, and identified that the diversity between sectors and the cultural differences of the sectors, were two of the main challenges to overcome when introducing arts programmes into the care context. Recent research supports this, with the overarching culture of the care home being found to be important in determining the success of an artist in facilitating engagement of residents with meaningful activities (Evans et al, 2019).…”

“…In this study the arts organisations and Facilitators were experienced in working in residential care homes with older people, so unlike the artists in Broome et al (2017) and Evans et al (2019) where artists new to the setting found the culture challenging, the Arts Facilitators already had a good understanding to better overcome those challenges, and also benefitted from peer learning between the arts organisations within the programme. However, as Naismith (2019) reports, artists working in health and social care settings often freelance and do not have the opportunity to experience such peer to peer learning.…”