title: Reducing social isolation in a rural community through participation in creative arts projects.
abstract: This article reports the initial findings from the evaluation of four creative arts projects involving groups of older people living in a rural community. The purpose of the projects was to reduce social isolation among participants through providing direct access to arts and social activities. The view was that these activities would improve life skills and independence, increase levels of activity and improve the health, wellbeing and quality of life of participants. Evaluation of these projects demonstrated increased levels of self-worth and self-esteem among participants. Many of the older people involved agreed that they had made new friends while having the opportunity to try out a new activity.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Society, University of Worcester, Worcester.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pearce
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Society, University of Worcester, Worcester.
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lillyman
mesh_terms: D001155:Art Therapy; D006801:Humans; D012424:Rural Population; D012934:Social Isolation
keywords: creative arts; health; loneliness; older people; quality of life; social isolation; wellbeing