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Today is the National Day of Arts in Care Homes. The National Activity Providers Association has been running this day since 2019 as a way to foster connections with different organisations and care communities. At Magic Me we strongly believe that creative opportunities should be available to people throughout their lives, and that art can be a truly meaningful way for people to connect and express themselves.
Spark is Magic Me’s flagship care home project, benefitting thousands of care home residents over the years. It is a combination of training for care home staff and visits from specially trained artists to care homes. Together, they run a range of sensory activities for older residents, and creativity is embedded in the everyday life of the home. Activities focus on the sensory – light, colour, texture – including natural ink paper marbling, weaving ‘guest-books’, and making light-sensitive prints or cyanotypes. All Spark techniques use inexpensive, easily available materials and equipment, and our visiting artists are trained to adapt the activities to those who are living with a dementia, or who cannot leave their bed or room. Homes receive in-person coaching and artist visits, online training, a legacy resource pack of materials and ideas to extend activities once artists have left.
These creative projects have a meaningful impact for participants. Physically, they can help improve physical dexterity. They can also improve resident’s moods and sense of wellbeing. One of our participants said after a session: “When you wake up, you think ‘it’s just another day’, but there’s more colour in this room than I’ve seen in my life’.
The impact of increased social engagement from Spark and arts workshops in care homes cannot be overstated. 100% of staff from the most recent version of Spark reported an increase in meaningful connections between residents and staff. Similarly, staff reported gaining new ideas, thinking of new approaching to providing personalised care, and felt more confident in being creative with residents.
If you’re interested in seeing for yourself the impact art can have in care homes, check out our 2022 mini-film ‘Still’, done in collaboration with Gecko Theatre.
