Working with older adults using creativity.

1. Art Facilitation:
Nursing Home

2. What they Offer
 Nursing Home Care: Is a purpose-built facility combining care and a home
environment for those no longer able to live alone. A full spectrum of
individualised care is available for residents of the 54 private and semi-
private rooms.

 Independent living facilities offer residents the independence of their own
home with the reassurance of the nearby nursing home facilities. These
14 units are ideal for those who are independent but may need support
on account of mobility or medical issues

3. Background of Facilities
 Opened in February 2001 on the edge of ------------ Town
 Two male Owners with 20 years experience
 Have three other centres- in Ireland.
 Offer Long-Term Care, Nursing Care, Respite Care, Dementia Care, Day
Care, Supported Living.
 At the core -‘’passionate, experienced and motivated staff, Palliative
Care, housed in a purpose-built premises and equipped with the
optimum level of facilities located at the heart of communities,
providing residents with continuity between their new home and the
one they are leaving behind.’’


4. Services
 Physiotherapy
 Occupational Therapy
 Chiropody
 Hairdressing
 Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Massage.
 Music Therapy
 In house mass service
 In house activities such as bingo.
 GP on call

5. Specialist Care Dementia Unit
 Fact: Roscommon has the highest rate for Alzheimer's in Ireland and yet
has the fewest services to offer.
 The nursing home has a dementia unit that cater for an increasing number
of men and women who are developing the early or late stages of
Alzheimer's or dementia. (1 of 54 in Ireland)
 Acknowledged in Document by The Dementia Services Information and
Development Centre (DSIDC), Dublin. (Specialist Care Units for People
with Dementia in Ireland: A Guide for Family Caregivers and Health
Service Professionals)

6. My Facilitation
 I emailed the manager to ask permission.
 I met with the manager to discuss what I would/could do.
 Decided on a Christmas theme to make decorations.
 On her request I drafted up and forwarded on a proposal on my activity.
 I had to gather materials and prepare some days in advance.
 The Activity had 4 participants with different levels of mobility. None of
them had dementia.

7. Materials used
 Paper
 glue
 Glitter
 scissors
 thread
 Pencils
 pencil colours
 Pre-sprayed silver branches
 paint brushes,
 music
 Newspaper
 Music in background

8. The Sparkly Branches
 I first got to know the participants names, 4 ladies!
 Explained who I was, what I was doing, the activities and materials.
 The time allocated was 1 hour
 They began to do the first activity which was to add glue to branches
which were previously sprayed silver. (For safety and to dry)
 Once this was done we added glitter and put them to one side to dry
 This created a wintery look and could be placed in their rooms in a vase or
freestanding with battery operated lights for affect

9. The Christmas Decorations
 The second activity was to make Christmas decorations to hang on the
little trees.
 I had bought card stars and foam balls (to make baubles).
 The participants used glue, stick on gems, glue on diamantes, glitter and
glitter glue to decorate their pieces.
 A carer and I had to help a few of the participants as their upper body
was stiff and they found some aspects such as gluing on small gems
difficult.
 After the activity I pierced the holes in the decorations and placed them
on the trees ready to be taken to their rooms.

10. The Results

17. Learning Points
 It was interesting to see the enthusiasm of the participants. They stated
they had not done much artwork like this as children and they found it
relaxing.
 The participants were interacting very well with one another in general
discussion, asked questions about the activity, looked for help, joked
and had fun.
 One lady stated her mother used to bring in branches and do something
similar with wax when she was a child.
 Two of the participants had poor mobility. One had a bad hand and the
other bad shoulders. Their movement was slow and they needed help
with small materials but they used their fine motor skills.



18. Limitations
 Space was an issue as there were 4 at a small round table it was tricky to
paint the trees so I had to put on most of the glitter at the side and
leave them to dry in the corner.
 I was allocated an hour because it was tea time at half four however I ran
over the time.
 Because the table was small the glitter went everywhere but this seemed
to be a talking point for the participants.

19. Evaluation
Overall I was thrilled with the enthusiasm and interest in the activity by both those
who partook and the staff.
I was happy with the idea although It would have been better suited to a more
spacious environment. Putting on the glitter was complex because I had to do it
over the basin, I had to put on the majority of the glitter. This activity may be
better for people who can move between work areas. One lady was a wheelchair
user, another used a stick and a third a walker.
The duration of the session was not long enough I definitely needed the hour and
a half as you cannot hurry elderly people who may have slower movement or stiff
hands etc.
Although I knew my way around the home due to familiarity I found the activity to
be challenging preparation and facilitation wise.