Please find below further information for Care Home Managers related to Creative Leadership Development and to Enhancing Wellbeing in the Care Sector through Arts and Culture:
The Culture, Health and Wellbeing Alliance is a national organisation representing everyone who believes that cultural engagement can transform our health and wellbeing. The website is full of project examples, research, inspiration, guides, learning and sharing.
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Opportunities to take part in music ‘essential’ in care homes, says report
A wonderful depiction of the hugely positive impact of having regular music sessions, physically and mentally within care homes, for both residents and staff. The report outlines the benefits of having weekly sessions to bring residents out of ‘withdrawal and into expression.’ It also examines the positive relations between staff and residents, and how it can be extremely uplifting, boosts a sense of wellbeing, and allows the staff to contribute and creates a sense of connectedness. The report digs even deeper to show how you might have to be sensitive to what types of music you work with, assessing each residents’ personal needs, to centre the activity or instrument around the individual. (read more)
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arts wave devon- enhancing wellbeing through participatory arts
Arts Wave Devon has written up a detailed report on their work, enhancing wellbeing within communities through creative participation. The feedback from participants is overwhelmingly positive, and the report provides strong evidence regarding how beneficial people found their engagement in the project’s sessions.
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‘What does good care look like?’ Encounters Arts was commissioned by Torbay Council and Torbay Culture to explore what makes good care with residents across Torbay’s care homes and to create a charter of rights for residents. It was an open discussion involving visual arts and inclusive practice, and involved staff, family, friends, and residents. Residents were asked, for example, ‘What makes this place feel like home?’ ‘What are the joys and challenges of living here?’ ‘What would your ideal care home look and feel like?’ and could respond in many different ways, verbally, through model making, drawing or writing. The creative consultation activities resulted in in the creation of a Torbay Care Charter based on the following 10 principles of good care: Purpose and Meaning; Community and Belonging; Nature and Environment; Health and Wellbeing; Freedom; Care; Identity; Learning; Respect; and Relationships. The care charter consists of 10 playing cards, designed to be beautiful and tactile, with each playing card representing one of the 10 principles.
A report which researches into creative training opportunities for staff and artists working within care settings. It questions the fact that the UK does not have a recognised accreditation system for arts providers within care settings, and looks at the quality of arts delivered. The absence of high-quality creative activities in care settings might stem from a lack of accessible training for artists and staff within these settings. It reiterates the importance of in-person training for care staff and artists. Looking at a range of case studies conducted by various arts organisations and trainers, it finds a consensus that the focus should be “on person-centred arts experiences.”- to have an inclusive policy of allowing residents to have the freedom to experience the arts in whatever way most resonates with the individual.
The arts help meet challenges in health and social care associated with ageing, loneliness, long-term conditions and mental health explains recent report.
An article about art therapy and its use to promote self-expression through creativity and its benefits when it comes to reducing anxiety and depression, facilitating intellectual stimulation, and improving cognitive skills. It notes that this is especially in people suffering from a developmental disability, dementia, or mental health issues. Art therapy can encompass a range of creative activities and can be a way to improve relations between staff, residents and family members, for those who struggle with communicating. The article also looks at some care homes which put creative practise into action and have some very positive case studies which detail the activities and their benefit in the individual homes.
An overview of: What are arts in health? The use of the arts to support personal development, improve quality of life, and contribute to social cohesion. The recipients of social care having access to a range of creative activities will enable them to exercise their choice and the control that underpins the personalisation agenda. Using the arts as a supplement for medicine and care, as engaging in the arts on a regular basis can promote the prevention of physical and mental illness.It also greatly improves the environments of healthcare settings and can benefit the recipients and the staff involved.
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Dementia and Imagination- Arts for Health
A quick look into the project ‘Dementia & Imagination’. Clive Parkinson leads on a specific research strand that looks at the psychological benefits of creative activities with dementia patients. Looking at how visual arts can help make a community dementia friendly and inclusive. This post is just an overview, however it links to further information on the ‘Dementia & Imagination’ project and their website which features some really beautiful art work and some further information on why and what they do.
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Music can help people in dementia
Looking into the power of music and its benefit, especially with dementia patients. ‘Musical aptitude and appreciation of music is also two of the very last remaining abilities found in those with late stage dementia.’ It looks at how listening to music engages with the right side of the brain, which is crucial for creativity, and how singing along with music engages the left side of the brain, which is designed for language, communication and logic. The article gives advice for integrating music into daily activities.
Gives great examples of the power of art and reinforces the research and supporting evidence of its beneficial impact on the elderly. Talks of tips for increasing creative activities within your own care home and looks at research and evidence to support this. Mentions individual organisations, such as Creative Minds, who are set up to integrate more art and craft activities within elderly care settings and promote the person-centred care approach.
Looks at our universal love of the arts and understanding that we can feel and see its benefit across all ages and throughout our own life times. It references the long list of benefits of art within care settings. It also summarises a variety of case studies across a range of care homes, all over the country,who have put arts activities and workshops in place, and details the evidence of their positive impact on the residents.
Leadership Development Programme for Torbay Care Home Managers 