I am a PhD student at the University of Derby, researching Creative Ageing. I am currently conducting a systematic review of participatory arts for promoting wellbeing & quality of life for healthy older adults. In addition to reviewing the evidence base, I am keen to find out the range of creative activities on offer to older people across the country.
From September to October 2014, Filipa Pereira-Stubbs spent 4 weeks in the United States, visiting three hospitals, researching how their Wellness and Arts programmes serve patients, staff, caregivers and the wider hospital community. Complimenting the hospital work, she met dance practitioners who work in the community with elderly populations.
Creativity in Mind is a collaboration with UCL Division of Psychology and Life Sciences exploring the impact of everyday creativity on people experiencing low mood and anxiety. It's free for anyone to take part in.
The Baring Foundation is inviting applications from academic institutions to research and produce a public report on the development of the fields of arts by and for older people in the UK over the last decade.
Intergenerational programmes are often seen as 'nice to have' rather than necessary. So in a time of restricted funds, priorities turn to other, more pressing needs. However, social psychological research has been gathering evidence over decades which highlights the key benefits arising from promoting good relationships between seemingly opposing social groups. These social groups can (and do) include 'the old' and 'the young'. The evidence has been disparate, however, and the whole notion of an age group comes with problems. How old do you have to be to be 'old'? At what age does someone stop being 'young'? Answers to these questions are so dependent on context that perhaps the notion of an age group at all becomes difficult. Yet we do make some judgements of each other and ourselves, based on our age. Ageism has a host of negative effects for older and younger people, and for society as a whole.
The National Alliance for Museums, Health and Wellbeing has produced a series of webinars exploring health, wellbeing and museums from different perspectives
In 2019, Arts 4 Dementia is organising a Best Practice Symposium on the theme of Social Prescription for Dementia, to showcase best UK examples of partnerships and social prescription and it needs your help. Does your organisation run arts programmes for people with dementia in the community, with referral through Social Prescription? Or perhaps you run a voluntary creative or cultural befriender scheme, whereby two individuals, one with dementia and an escort who share a passion for the arts, go to arts events together, whether participatory or performance?
I am look for FREE venues in Cambridge to hold focus groups for my PhD research into Creative Ageing. Venues could be an arts organisation, community centre, village hall....somewhere inviting, safe and quiet!
Over the last 2 years, 64 Million Artists has worked with Leicester Ageing Together to explore the impact of everyday creativity and digital tools on the wellbeing of older people. This action research project was funded by Nominet Trust and The Baring Foundation.
The findings of our new report That Age Old Question reveal that ageist views are held across the generations, and that an ageing society is viewed by many as a challenge rather than an opportunity. We are making a number of recommendations aimed at addressing some of the key drivers and negative consequences of societal ageism.
Creativity and Learning in Later Life examines how processes such as ‘creativity’ and ‘inspiration’ are experienced by writers who engage with the visual arts, and questions how age is perceived in relation to these processes. The author’s careful analysis challenges many of the assumptions on which museum education currently operates, contributing to wider debates surrounding the value of arts and cultural heritage education.
This research highlights a need for a fundamental re-think of digital inclusion policy and practice for people in later life. There are now more people online in later life than ever before. Over the last several years, the proportion of older people using the internet has risen considerably faster than for the general population.
Throughout 2016-2017, people over 60, explored the relationship between ageing and culture with writer, Sarah Butler, through a series of conversations, debates, investigations and creative writing workshops.
Through Age UK's wellbeing research, it has attempted to find out what makes later life worth living. Its new report explores the striking impact of creative and cultural activities.
I am seeking help please with some work I am doing to look at the role and impact of creative arts and cultural participation in reducing loneliness. Please would you help me with any research references, contact details of anyone working in this specific area, pointers, suggestions, ideas, by contacting me at paullewiscann@gmail.com . I’d be enormously grateful.
Around 450,000 older people live in care homes in the UK. Older people in care are likely to be particularly disadvantaged in terms of access to arts and cultural activities, but participation in the arts can have a huge impact on wellbeing at what can be a difficult time of life. We gave Age Cymru a grant in 2015 for cARTrefu, a programme of artists’ residencies in care homes in Wales, jointly funded with the Arts Council of Wales. The first phase delivered nearly 2,000 hours of multi-form arts provision to over 1,500 residents in 122 care homes. A second phase is now underway.
This report contains the initial findings from a study into creative social activity and older adult wellbeing. Key findings highlight the benefits to older women's self-worth and belonging resulting from regular social participatory arts activities.
Normally associated with children – in particular, a future king of England – it may come as a surprise that Montessori education methods can be highly effective for supporting people with dementia.
Frances Williams PhD research explores how devolution is impacting the field of Arts in health. I began this enormous task last year by trying to understand the big picture, looking at how policy frameworks and forms of government diverge in their approach to Arts in Health – not only between the(four)nations but recently devolved(English)city-regions too.
An exchange with Taiwan on the theme of creative ageing reveals some inspiring projects from one of the world's fastest ageing societies.
It has been highlighted as a public health priority to identify ways of supporting well-being in older age to allow people to lead healthy and integrated lifestyles. This study explored whether membership in eight different sorts of community groups was associated with enhanced experienced, evaluative and eudemonic well-being among older adults.
A new study, published in the journal Systematic Reviews, conducted by researchers at the University of Liverpool and Newcastle University has identified the most effective initiatives for promoting respect and social inclusion for older people living in the community.
This work-based research by Jacqueline Richards makes a timely contribution, bringing together older people’s voices, work-based practice, theory and learning to create new knowledge that can inform future research and practice, whether large or small scale.
Created Out of Mind is a team aiming to explore, challenge and shape perceptions and understanding of dementias through science and the creative arts.
Recognition of the role of artistic and creative practices in enhancing health, wellbeing and quality of life is gaining increasing significance as evident through a number of reports, research and news articles, initiatives and events.
The symptoms of hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people with dementia could significantly improve by listening to and playing music, according to a report. The study, which compiled existing evidence as well as talking to experts, found music can help people with dementia recall information and reduce symptoms such as anxiety, agitation and aggression.
Integrating arts and culture into NHS plans will both save and change lives, write Lord Haworth and Rob Webster. “Creative Minds not only saved my life, it gave me a life”. I first heard Debs Taylor, a peer project development worker, tell me this at a conference on social prescribing. In one sentence, she captured why a focus on the arts and health should be a fundamental part of every NHS plan and strategy.
A new report from the Commission on Dementia and Music. With the number of people living with dementia in the UK expected to reach one million by 2025, this is a hugely important issue for society as a whole, and one which the ILC-UK has focused on for over ten years. Whilst dementia and music might seem like a niche topic, the work of the Commission has, for the first time, brought together experts, specialists, and people with dementia to examine the topic holistically. The Commission has outlined the value and benefits of music for people with dementia, whilst also looking at the important next steps which can be taken to ensure that everyone with dementia is able to access music.
The Age of Creativity is a network of professionals and organisations that thrives by working in partnership. If you’re specialism is research and your work supports older people to enjoy improved health, wellbeing and quality of life through the arts and culture, then your website could feature here for free. If you provide information on your website that our national network could benefit from then we really need to connect up so get in touch today.”
