Putting the art into Arcot: how creative activities benefit care home residents

Every Wednesday morning, residents of Sidmouth's Arcot House have the chance to get creative. An informal art group, set up by activities co-ordinator Trevor Hunt, enables them to draw and paint, experiment with watercolours and acrylics, play around with colour and generally do something very different from their normal day-to-day routine.

Some residents have found they have real artistic talents and others have rediscovered a hobby they had abandoned years ago. But the main point of the sessions is the therapeutic benefit of using creative skills and producing a piece of work they can be proud of.

Trevor, a keen artist himself, said, "It's been proved time and time again that art helps reduce stress and anxiety – I can feel it myself when I paint at home.

"Some of them say, 'Oh, no way could I paint. I haven't picked up a paintbrush in years', but as soon as you set them simple tasks they love it. You can see that they're completely absorbed with what they're doing and then you build up from that."

It's what he calls 'the here and now moment'. Trevor has observed how people with dementia, whose short-term memory is severely damaged, benefit from being 'in that moment' as they focus on their art. Those who suffer from tension and anxiety get a similar benefit from concentrating on the process of producing a picture, with relaxing music playing in the background.

'A mental rest that lowers stress'

The Social Care Institute for Excellence is very enthusiastic about introducing artistic activities into care homes. Its website says, "Getting involved in the visual arts stimulates the mind and raises the spirits of people living in residential care.

"Art makes us more human; it helps us to communicate in a different, personal language. This is a great benefit for all people and especially for those who have conditions with a lack of communication or problems expressing themselves.

"Artwork is an individual activity even within a group of others; the individual enters into their own world, a world full of possibilities. Stimulating the creative mind allows the individual to positively isolate from reality, which provides a mental rest that lowers stress and generates relaxation and happiness feelings. This is especially significant for people with aggression or nervousness conditions."

At a time when Covid-19 restrictions have led to further stress for people in care homes and fewer opportunities to receive visitors, Trevor thinks the art activities and the satisfaction of producing a good piece of work have boosted morale among residents.

He said, "I think a lot of it is about a bit of praise now and then, especially in these times. They can't have a hug, they can't see their loved ones much. I think no matter what age you are, it's always nice to have that in your life."

He is hoping that, once life returns to something approaching normality, the residents' artwork can be shown off to a wider audience. He would very much like to create a display at Arcot House and invite families, friends and maybe the general public to come and view their creations – which he thinks deserve to be seen.

"Ninety-nine per cent of the time I'm absolutely bowled over by what they can do," he said. "I've been astounded by some of their work."