Presentation slides (Part Two) from Arts and Older People training day at ARC Stockton. 29th November 2012

1. Arc Stockton
Arts and Older People Training
Ageing Communities – A Context
29th November 2012

2. Older people – building age friendly
communities

3. Ageing communities – facing the
future
“Population ageing and urbanisation have in their different ways become the key
social trends of the the twenty-first century.”
Professor Chris Phillipson 2010

4. Ageing in an urban environment
“There is emerging evidence that urban environments may place older people at a
heightened risk of isolation and loneliness.
Changes in urban environments are developed to meet the needs of younger
consumers.
Older people’s social well-being is prone to changes in population. The loss of family
members, friends and neighbours has implications for the maintenance of stable,
social relationships.
Older people are affected by changes linked to social issues, such as changes in
services and levels of crime.”
Scharf / Gierveld 2008

5. Experiences of Ageing
“Some councils will see an
outward migration of
affluent people in their 50s
and 60s who choose to
leave urban areas. The
remaining older population
tends to be poorer, isolated
“I just sit in staring at the television or and more vulnerable with a
the walls. You get to a point where you lower life expectancy and a
think I can’t cope. I mean you think
what’s the point being stuck here day in need for acute
day out.” interventions”
Female, 51, East Manchester
Audit Commission 2008

6. Age Inequalities – Depression and
wealth
W 75+
W 50 - 59 Poorest
4th
3rd
M 75 +
2nd
Richest
M 50 - 59
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

7. Ageing Inequalities – Mean walking
speed & wealth, people aged 60+
Poorest
Metres Per Second 4th
3rd
2nd
Richest
0.7 0.75 0.8 0.85 0.9 0.95 1

8. Ageing in Teesside
80 plus
65 to 79
2029
Working Age 15 to 64 2012
Under 15
0 500000 1000000 1500000 2000000

9. How may this change our
communities?
DEMOGRAPHIC AGEING
RECIPROCITY IN CARE –
& COMMUNITY LIFE – INCOME & WEALTH –
changed family
patterns and levels of employment, retirement,
relationships and care
consumption. Need and education
structures
provision of services
POLITICAL AND CIVIL
HEALTH AND WELLBEING
ENGAGEMENT

10. 5 Key Questions for an Ageing
Community
How can communities How can out community How are communities
remain a driver for resources be used by designed to suit the
economic success but older people? Including needs of people of all
also engage older people? cultural resources ages?
How can we encourage How can we integrate
new models of design and research around ageing
engagement? into policy and practice?

11. Any questions?
Any observations?

12. Arts and Older People – why develop
this work?

13. Context of Ageing
1 in 5 of the UK
There are now more Many older people feel
population is now of state
people aged over 60 than isolated in their own
pension age – 12 million
there are under 18 home
people
People over 65 spend on
No specific arts and
averaged 80% of their
culture agenda that
time at home – 90% for
targets older people
people over 85

14. “The Impact of Professionally Conducted Cultural Programmes
on the Physical Health, Mental Health and Social Functioning
of Older Adults” Cohen et al, National Endowment for the
Arts, USA
• Study included a variety of artforms and
involved 300 older people, one group involved
in arts programmes, one group not.
• The study showed participants who were
involved in arts programmes had better
health, fewer doctor visits, less medication
usage, and increased activities and social
engagement.

15. Mental Wellbeing
Added value gained from
performing across art Way to embrace new and
Increased confidence and
forms positive aspects of
self esteem
(drama, dance, singing, pl identity and life role
aying music)
Benefit of exceeding
May be particularly Improved cognitive
personal expectations – “I
beneficial in times of function and
never thought I could do
change / difficulty such as communication for
that and now I want to
widowhood or retirement people with dementia
develop that skill.”

16. Physical Wellbeing
Particular art forms may lend themselves more than others to significant physical
health improvements
• Dance, singing & playing instruments are better for cardio-vascular joint mobility
and breathing control
Absorption in activity that is not immediately apparent as being physically exerting
can lead to an increase in levels of general daily activity having a positive effect on
physical wellbeing
• EG visual arts, drama, creative writing

17. Community Building
Altruism experienced Allow people with
Opportunities for
through participatory art dementia to access
meaningful social
can be a means of ‘giving community and raising
contact, friendship and
something back’ to the awareness and
support
community expectation
Relationship building for Can foster a sense of
people with dementia community and belonging
and their carers in care settings

18. Society
Larger scale festivals have Powerful tool that can
potential to positively transform contribute towards challenging
attitudes to older people – and breaking down self and
particularly through external stigmas of being older
intergenerational engagement that pervade popular culture
Can bring together people in a
way that helps individuals in
marginalised groups mitigate
the negative effects of stigma
and self-doubt on their well
being