Arts programme gives dementia carers new skills and confidence

Activities like poetry, film and music can help care home staff to think more creatively when they’re caring for residents with dementia, new research has found.

Care staff from 14 care homes in Flintshire took part in an 18-month study – funded by Health and Care Research Wales and the Wellcome Trust – which tested an arts-based staff development programme called Creative Conversations.

The programme uses creative activities to Increase awareness of the possibilities within dementia care. It also aims to provide staff with practical communication skills, which they can use to develop caring relationships with residents.

Staff who took part in the study found the approach of learning through the arts strengthened their understanding of their residents, including the importance of non-verbal communication. It also gave them the confidence to try more creative approaches to care.

Dr Katherine Algar-Skaife, who led the research, said: “The arts are increasingly recognised as important and beneficial activities for people living with dementia.

“In this project we have shown that learning through the arts can also enhance the skills of dementia care staff and enable them to develop a deeper understanding of the residents they care for.”

The research project was carried out in partnership between Bangor University’s Dementia Services Development Centre Wales (the research group from Ageing & Dementia @ Bangor in School of Health Sciences), Dementia Positive, TenFiveTen Consultancy and Flintshire County Council Social Services.

First published: @ResearchWales Issue 6, June 2019