Research from Anglia Ruskin University shows how care home staff can be empowered to provide creative activities for residents. The outcome of a four-year project with care home provider Excelcare, arts charity Magic Me and four other arts organisations, the report illustrates how to build relationships between artists, residents and staff through participation in the creative arts. It finds that arts activities were powerful in fostering engagement and meaningful moments for staff with residents.
“Our evaluation found that the pandemic provided a unique challenge for the artists and staff, but meant that, when activities resumed, the sense of joy and worth were heightened not only among residents, but among staff and artists,” said Professor Hilary Bungay, who was lead investigator for the research project, called Dare to Imagine.
“Collaborative working between artists and care home staff involved embracing artists’ creative skills, human approach, and adaptability, as well as valuing the knowledge and expertise of care home staff and supporting them to take on creative roles.” For the report, go to https://magicme.co.uk/resource/dare-to-imagine-artists-residencies-in-care-homes-report