An exciting new programme is aiming to put arts and culture at the centre of care by helping develop relationships between older people and care staff.
Funding from Arts Council England for £125,000 has enabled Essex County Council to launch the programme with Anglia Ruskin University.
Entitled Creative Journeys, the programme focuses on older people who live in care homes or attend day care sessions spread across eight venues throughout Essex.
These are people who might either need a little bit of extra help with their old age or no longer want to live alone. Of course, people can get “live in care” to help them with their day to day life though. It’s always a worry for people that something might happen, say they fall down the stairs, or have a stroke – what would happen if they lived home alone?
That’s where going into ones of these homes, or getting extra help can be so useful, it can take off a lot of pressure that the younger families might have when it comes to looking after their elderly relatives. People have to work, and although many would love to spend every second of their day with their aging parents, it’s just not feasible in today’s world. So having that little bit of extra help is a comfort.
It involves four innovative cultural organisations including: Age Exchange, Magic Me, Orchestras Live in partnership with Sinfonia Viva, and Green Candle Dance Company.
In Brentwood, Orchestras Live is working with the renowned Sinfonia Via orchestra to create new songs with residents and staff at four care homes in Brentwood throughout September.
The participants will perform their new songs alongside Sinfonia Viva in a celebration concert at Bishops Hill Adult Community Learning centre on the 23 October at 2pm.
The care homes taking part in the project are Howards Lodge, The Beeches, Brookes House and The Squirrels.
