Arts, Health and Seniors Project

Healthy Aging through the Arts

Arts in Health

Hospital-based

Community-based

Health-professionals

Arts in the Environment Participatory Arts Art Therapy

Arts in Health Promotion Community-engaged Arts Art Therapy Experiential Arts Arts with Marginalized Groups

Arts in the Environment Participatory Arts Arts and Humanities in education of health professionals

Arts in Healthcare: a Snapshot

Arts, Health and Seniors Project

Results from Creativity and Aging Study (Cohen, 2006)

Intervention Group Self-rated health status Doctor visits per year Number of falls Hip damage Medication use Vision problems Depression (GDS) Loneliness Morale Activity levels Better than baseline 9.37 in past year Less falls than baseline Lower than control Slower increase Less than baseline Lower than control Lower than control Higher than control 2 more than baseline Control Group Worse than baseline 13.19 in past year More falls than baseline Higher than intervention More than baseline No change Higher than intervention Higher than intervention Lower than intervention 2 less than baseline

Baseline

Year One

Health Impacts of Community Arts

Arts, Health and Seniors Project

For artists and seniors to work together to explore new territory and to create works with meaning and power for themselves and for the others in their communities
To maintain and/or improve the health and well-being of the seniors (all of whom face barriers of some kind) through their participation in communityengaged arts practices To create a supportive environment for community engaged arts practices and increase their use within centres for community programming and healthcare environments To demonstrate the positive impact of participation in arts based activities on the health and well-being of seniors in Vancouver and the North Shore

Arts, Health and Seniors Project

Project Goals

Community-engaged art workshops (September to May)

Theme-based workshops (November and June) Arts Experiences

Annual Performances and Exhibitions (April and May)

Research and Evaluation

Arts, Health and Seniors Project

Project Activities

Renfrew

Britannia

Strathcona

Silver Harbour

Arts, Health and Seniors Project

Seniors Groups

Document the implementation of the project

Provide ongoing monitoring of the implementation process

Facilitate knowledgesharing strategies within the group and with other groups

Process Evaluation
Arts, Health and Seniors Project

Generate evidence of the health and well-being impact of involvement in the arts (AHS Research Strategy) Assess other OMF Outcomes of the Project including:
1.

2.

3.

4.

Increase ability of participant artists and seniors workers for engaging in community-arts programming with seniors Increase artistic skills among participant seniors Exhibitions and performances engaging the general public and demonstrating role of seniors as active members of community Community learning opportunities (theme-based workshops)

Outcome Evaluation

Arts, Health and Seniors Project

Mixed methods approach

Combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches to collect data from artists, senior workers and participating seniors: participant observation, individual and group interviews, measurement scales, and questionnaires and surveys This longitudinal study will collect baseline, mid-study and post-intervention health data from Jan. 2007- Jan. 08

Convenience sampling
Outputs: evaluation, report and data for further research How does involvement in community engaged arts affect the health and well being of senior participants: physical health, mental health, social function and health services use.

Health and well-being research

AHS Outcome Evaluation

Participatory Evaluation of the project

Peer documentation stories of seniors by seniors

Online journalism, video documentation, photography and radio

Participatory Action Research

Arts, Health and Seniors Project

Encourage reflective practice and knowledgesharing among participant artists and seniors workers Face-to-face meetings & online forum Mentoring opportunities for practitioners outside the program Forum started on September 2006; first meeting October 24th 2006

Community of Practice
Arts, Health and Seniors Project

Partners and Funders

Arts, Health and Seniors Project

Arts, Health and Seniors Project

Partners and Funders