Using multisensory culture boxes to promote public health guidance and to support the wellbeing of people with dementia in care homes.
Lead Research Organisation:
University of West London
Department Name: School of Biomedical Sciences
Abstract
This study addresses two urgent challenges. Firstly, providing COVID-19 (CV-19) information for those with cognitive impairment, specifically people with dementia in care homes. Secondly, alleviating social isolation and loneliness in care homes by providing creative activities that support wellbeing for people with dementia, especially, in the context of long-term CV-19 lockdown and restrictions.
This project will produce, distribute and evaluate CV-19 culture boxes incorporating pandemic guidance with creative activities to support health and wellbeing and alleviate social isolation and loneliness for people with dementia in care homes.
The team will work with the Geller Institute of Ageing and Memory (IAM), stakeholders including people with dementia, staff and family carers and allied professionals, including BAME representatives, to co-design culture boxes with artists. These will be delivered weekly for 3 months (then repeated, updated, for 12 months). Each will contain multisensory materials (subject to health and safety guidance) suitable for diverse populations that: provide information about CV-19 transmission and prevention, with creative resources including music and art activities that are simple to implement and offer stimulation and enrichment. The weekly delivery aims to reinforce public health messaging and to mimic regular activities in care homes.
The National Activity Providers Association (NAPA) will support distribution via their network of 3000 members. The project will be evaluated using Participatory Action Research (PAR). All resources will be archived via the NAPA website ensuring that they are widely available. Dissemination includes an art exhibition, conferences, educational presentations, and a peer-reviewed paper.
This project will produce, distribute and evaluate CV-19 culture boxes incorporating pandemic guidance with creative activities to support health and wellbeing and alleviate social isolation and loneliness for people with dementia in care homes.
The team will work with the Geller Institute of Ageing and Memory (IAM), stakeholders including people with dementia, staff and family carers and allied professionals, including BAME representatives, to co-design culture boxes with artists. These will be delivered weekly for 3 months (then repeated, updated, for 12 months). Each will contain multisensory materials (subject to health and safety guidance) suitable for diverse populations that: provide information about CV-19 transmission and prevention, with creative resources including music and art activities that are simple to implement and offer stimulation and enrichment. The weekly delivery aims to reinforce public health messaging and to mimic regular activities in care homes.
The National Activity Providers Association (NAPA) will support distribution via their network of 3000 members. The project will be evaluated using Participatory Action Research (PAR). All resources will be archived via the NAPA website ensuring that they are widely available. Dissemination includes an art exhibition, conferences, educational presentations, and a peer-reviewed paper.
Publications
Asker C
(2023)
Culture Box: using multi-sensory arts and creative activities to decrease social isolation and loneliness in people with dementia during COVID-19
in Journal of Dementia Care
Asker C
Coping Creatively
Tischler V
(2023)
Together yet apart: Rethinking creativity and relational dementia care during the Covid-19 pandemic.
in Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)
| Title | Artist commissions |
| Description | Akeim Toussaint Buck https://www.toussainttomove.com/ film commissioned 'Hello Love' |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Impact | Included in Culture Box 1- the film has been used in a variety of dissemination events e.g. a keynote to British Psychological Society's DHP conference 2021. |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMHw3kYzrRU&t=1s |
| Title | Box of Smiles |
| Description | Ronald Amanze was commissioned to set participant poetry to music |
| Type Of Art | Performance (Music, Dance, Drama, etc) |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | Composition was shared with research participants and via project social media accounts |
| Title | Come with Me |
| Description | Composer Amy May was commissioned to write a piece of music especially for the project and suitable for diverse auidences The piece starts with an invitation - Come with me - initially in English, but with different languages incorporated. Other sensory experiences are evoked within the composition. |
| Type Of Art | Composition/Score |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | Data still being analysed |
| URL | https://www.cultureboxstudy.org/box-index |
| Title | Culture Box archive |
| Description | All materials created during the project have been made available open access via the project website and our collaborator NAPA's website |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | The materials are being used internationally. We have been awarded further funding (ref: AH/X009408/1) to develop use of these materials. |
| URL | https://napa-activities.co.uk/services/projects/the-culture-box-study |
| Title | Renate Kudlacek- henna art |
| Description | Kudlacek created images for colouring, inspired by Indian henna art |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Impact | Data not yet analysed |
| URL | https://www.cultureboxstudy.org/artists |
| Title | Take my Hand |
| Description | A multi-sensory theatre-based activity for people with dementia |
| Type Of Art | Performance (Music, Dance, Drama, etc) |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | Specifically designed for those from diverse communities. Analysing data currently. |
| URL | https://www.cultureboxstudy.org/ |
| Title | Tree series |
| Description | A series of tree painting and illustrations was commissioned from artist Martin Jordan |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Impact | Featured on website, in presentations about the project |
| URL | https://www.cultureboxstudy.org/ |
| Title | Yonka Bia |
| Description | A board game designed by artist Larry Amponsah for those from diverse communities. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | Specifically designed for those from diverse communities. Analysing data currently. |
| URL | https://www.cultureboxstudy.org/ |
| Description | Note that these findings are preliminary as data are still being analysed. Analysis of dialogic interviews indicates some key themes: Stimulation & interest Culture Box activities provided interactive and stimulating activities that brought staff and residents together. In some cases these alleviated anxiety and distress in residents and enhanced social interaction. Art making, musical & nature-based activities The physical activities delivered were the most popular with art-making rated highly. This included collage, colouring and watercolour activities. The musical recordings were popular, evoking memories and discussion about travel, family and identity Support & inspiration for staff Culture Box materials provided ideas and inspiration for staff at a time of immense challenge. They were encouraged to try new activities thus adding to their skillset. Relationships developed & enhanced Meaningful conversation between staff and residents was reported, including elicitation of new information that helped to build relationships. Increase in socialisation, calm Some residents who were normally reclusive began to join in with others as a result of taking part. Some residents who were agitated and restless became noticeably calmer when participating. Issues- digital, staff confidence/training, staff attrition Digital poverty was a barrier even though the project provided ipads to care homes where required. Care homes often had poor broadband connections that made accessing and utilising digital materials difficult. Dialogic interviews were also challenging due to connection issues. Care home staff attrition was high. Although the team made efforts to replace staff who left the project, this was not always possible. Additional training was offered to staff to build confidence in engaging with different types of creative materials including that suitable for those from Black and Asian communities. |
| Exploitation Route | The team has been sharing preliminary results at conferences. There will be more to add when data analysis is complete. |
| Sectors | Healthcare,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Other |
| Description | The project has been presented at a number of non-academic fora, reaching a wide and diverse audience e.g. Culture, Health, National Gallery (arts, health and wellbeing using museum collections) and Wellbeing Alliance & National Activity Providers Annual (NAPA) Report. Colleagues in Canada (working on health sector training) note that the project can inform the training of care staff. They suggest that the findings can empower staff and families to explore the creative arts as a valuable opportunity for engaging the body, mind and spirit, and to learn about those in their care to ensure they select the activities that will inspire individuals living with dementia to engage in creative activities. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2021 |
| Sector | Healthcare,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Other |
| Impact Types | Societal,Policy & public services |
| Description | The Pandemic and Beyond |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://pandemicandbeyond.exeter.ac.uk/policy/webinars/ |
| Description | Beyond Culture Box: using creative practice to support people living with dementia, staff, and family supporters |
| Amount | £94,794 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | AH/X009408/1 |
| Organisation | Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| Description | HoPE Health Inequalities |
| Amount | £10,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | NHS England |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2022 |
| End | 03/2023 |
| Description | The Pandemic and Beyond |
| Organisation | University of Exeter |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Culture is one of the portfolio of AHRC-funded pandemic responsive projects. The lead investigator (Victoria Tischler) is co-investigator on the Pandemic and Beyond. This has resulted in opportunities to present the work of Culture Box to a wider audience e.g. VT has contributed a case study to 'The Humanities in Practices: case studies from UK universities' (coordinated by Jo Gill, Uni of Exeter), is presenting the work at a forthcoming policy roundtable and to the VC at University of Exeter. Culture Box has also shared resources with a number of other organisations e.g. Entelechy Arts, Live Music Now, Drawing Life. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The collaborators have supported raising awareness of the project to wider audience and due to our national focus, we have been able to include materials from other projects e.g. 'The Creative Doodle Book' project was designed for people with learning disabilities but has been well-received by our participants with dementia. |
| Impact | Information has been included in conference presentations and talks. Collaborators are acknowledged on the project website |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | consultancy |
| Organisation | Internet Service Providers Association |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | consultancy; access to care home staff; access to NAPA membership; information sharing; training expertise |
| Collaborator Contribution | consultancy; training; information sharing |
| Impact | training sessions for care home staff |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Institute for Storytelling launch event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A monologue was performed by a professional actress. This used anonymised interview data from research participants. Information about the project including creative materials developed were also shared at the event (Royal Opera House, London). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.arts.ac.uk/storytelling-institute/projects |
| Description | Podcast- Centre for Culture Value |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Team members (Victoria Tischler, Hannah Zeilig and Errol Francis) participated in the Reflecting Value (Whose Safe Spaces?) podcast |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.culturalvalue.org.uk/podcast/whose-safe-spaces/ |
| Description | Podcast- The Pandemic and Beyond |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Errol Francis and Victoria Tischler were interviewed by Sarah Hartley for the Pandemic and Beyond project- EPISODE 5: ARTS, PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELLBEING IN CARE HOMES - THE CULTURE BOX PROJECT |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://pandemicandbeyond.exeter.ac.uk/media/podcasts/ |
| Description | blog post |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dr Errol Francis (content producer) was invited by Victoria Hume (director-Culture Health and Wellbeing Alliance) to contribute a blog about the project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.culturehealthandwellbeing.org.uk/news/blog/guest-blog-errol-francis-culture-box-project |