Together yet apart: Rethinking creativity and relational dementia care during the Covid-19 pandemic

• Published in: Geriatric nursing (New York) Vol. 54; pp. 99 - 107
• Main Authors: Tischler, Victoria, Zeilig, Hannah, O'Malley, Mary, Asker, Chloe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.11.2023
• Subjects: COVID-19 pandemic; Creativity; Dementia; Relational care; social health; COVID-19 pandemic; social health; Relational care; Creativity; Dementia
• ISSN: 0197-4572; 1528-3984; 1528-3984
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2023.08.012

•Creative activities support the development of relational dementia care, i.e., care that is trusting, reciprocal and mutually beneficial, for those with dementia and care staff.•Socialisation and independence in people living with dementia can be fostered using engaging and interactive creative activities.•Remote and hybrid delivery of creative activities benefits people with dementia and staff in care homes, reaching a much larger population than is normally possible with face-to-face delivery. Culture Box was a creative project that responded to deprivation and distress experienced by those with dementia in care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote and digital creative activities were designed and delivered as ‘Culture Boxes’ to care homes, aiming to alleviate social isolation and loneliness for people with dementia. Eighty-eight people with dementia and 33 care staff from 33 care homes across England were recruited to the study, with 68 people with dementia and 28 staff completing the study 12 months later. Participatory Action Research combining mixed methods was used to evaluate the project. Baseline and follow-up surveys and dialogic interviews at 3 time points during the study collected quantitative and qualitative data and were analysed descriptively and via inductive thematic analysis respectively. Qualitative findings indicated that the project activities facilitated relational care through creative experiences characterised by sharing, building relationships, and developing a sense of community. Social health was promoted via participation in social activities and fostering independence. Future studies should further explore the utility of creative practices to develop relational care, to support care staff, and to maximise wellbeing benefits for those living with dementia.