The National Activity Providers Association (NAPA) - Arts in Care Homes
NAPA champions arts in care homes, supporting a diverse range of creative activity including film-making, opera, dance and movement, poetry, exploring museum collections, and circus skills.
A key element of the NAPA Arts in Care Homes programme is the National Day of Arts in Care Homes, an annual event that takes place on 24 September. Launched in 2019, the day took on a new significance during the pandemic when lockdowns restricted in-person sessions from external artists, therapists and activity facilitators. Care staff and activity providers embraced creative activities and engagement, using different art forms with groups and on a one-to-one basis. The National Day has provided a focus in care homes across the UK and motivation for staff teams and residents who have developed a wonderful array of arts projects developed around the annual themes. Examples of the artwork produced can be seen here. Feedback from care providers suggests that it is a good way of encouraging involvement from more staff members and relatives, breaking down barriers in terms of attitudes around art and helping to keep care homes connected to their local communities.
“I don’t know how we would have survived covid without the arts.” – Activity Provider
The pandemic was an opportunity to explore the role of digital technology in meaningful creative engagement. A project developed by NAPA with Innovations in Dementia involved members of the Dementia Craftivists, people with lived experience of dementia who facilitated craft sessions with care homes via zoom. Beneficial outcomes for all participants in terms of well-being were significant and the sessions demonstrated the potential for this type of online creative engagement for care homes.
“We have been amazed by the creativity of care homes during the pandemic. The arts can make life more meaningful and enjoyable for everyone, provided that people are given opportunities to participate in a variety of ways. Going forward we see the future of care homes as creative communities where the arts are embedded into everyday care provision for the benefit of residents, staff, relatives, volunteers and friends.” - Alison Teader, Programme Director, NAPA Arts in Care Homes
Despite the benefits of creative health in care home settings, in the current climate with underfunding and high levels of staff turnover, the provision of creative activities is not universal and staff are limited by time, resources and lack of specialist skills and knowledge to deliver creative activities. Research by NAPA, reported in the Baring Foundation report ‘Every Care Home a Creative Care Home’ suggests that a cultural shift in understanding of the benefits of creativity in care homes along with specialist training and further partnerships between care homes and community organisations and arts providers could support more widespread availability. The extent of provision is often dependent on the enthusiasm of the care home manager, and while extremely good examples of best practice exist, a system-wide approach including both the arts and social care sectors, with leadership from the government is required, to ensure all care home residents are able to access the benefits. NAPA’s Manager’s Guide to Arts in Care Homes is a new resource to support managers develop exciting person-centred arts offers involving all their staff teams, artists and the local community.
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