title: Coffee, Cake & Culture: Evaluation of an art for health programme for older people in the community.
abstract: Arts for health initiatives and networks are being developed in a number of countries and an international literature is emerging on the evidence of their benefits to people's health, wellbeing and quality of life. Engagement in cultural and creative arts by older people can increase their morale and self-confidence and provides opportunities for social connection. Museums and galleries are increasingly required to justify their expenditure, reach and impact and some are working in partnership with local councils, hospitals, schools and communities to improve access to their collections. There is a body of literature emerging that describes such initiatives but empirical evidence of their benefits is less developed. This article reports an evaluation of an art for health initiative - Coffee, Cake & Culture organised and delivered by Whitworth Art Gallery and Manchester Museum in 2012 for older people living in a care home and a supported living facility. The study has identified the benefits and impacts of the arts for health programme and its feasibility for older people, with or without diagnosed memory loss - dementia, living in a care home or supported living facility and their care staff. The findings demonstrate there were benefits to the older people and their care staff in terms of wellbeing, social engagement, learning, social inclusion and creativity. These benefits were immediate and continued in the short term on their return home. The majority of older people and care staff had not previously been to the art gallery or museum and the programme encouraged creative arts and cultural appreciation which promoted social inclusion, wellbeing and quality of life. The programme is feasible and important lessons were identified for future planning. Further research involving partnerships of researchers, arts for health curators, artists, care staff, older people and their families is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Evidence-based Practice Research Centre, Faculty of Health & Social Care, Edge Hill University, Lancashire, UK; Personal Social Services Research Unit, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK brenda.roe@edgehill.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Roe
authors.affiliation: Performing Arts, Faculty of Arts & Science, Edge Hill University, Lancashire, UK.
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McCormick
authors.affiliation: Whitworth Art Gallery, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Terri
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lucas
authors.affiliation: Whitworth Art Gallery, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.affiliation: The Manchester Museum, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Winn
authors.affiliation: Irwell Valley Housing Association, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elkin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001155:Art Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D011788:Quality of Life; D012944:Social Support; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: arts for health; care home; community; dementia; older people