The benefits of art therapy in home care

A home care package that provides one-on-one sessions with professional artists is on offer for older people living in their own homes.

HammondCare At Home provides art lessons under the Arts on Prescription @ Home program to clients, including those living with dementia, in addition to the usual cleaning and personal care services offered by home care providers. In some cases, GPs and other professionals may refer the client to receive visits by artists for its health benefits.

Recently published research, ‘Arts on Prescription @ Home – Home-delivered Participatory Art Pilot to Support Wellbeing in Dementia Carer and care Recipient Dyads’ in The Journal of Ageing and Social Change, found the program offers genuine health and wellbeing benefits.

Director of HammondCare’s Centre for Positive Ageing Professor Christopher Poulos, who developed the program, said clients and carers enjoyed enhanced social interaction, opportunities to be “in flow” and experience personal growth and achievement.

“Arts on Prescription @ Home has the potential to bring joy into the homes of older people, including those living with dementia,” he said.

Lorraine Carroll, 87, and Roslyn Rooke, 69, are among clients receiving visits from one of HammondCare’s 15 trained artists who can offer engagement in painting as well as singing, acting and dancing. The visits are paid for through their home care packages.

“We support clients’ physical, mental, clinical and spiritual wellbeing. We work as a team to provide our clients with personalised care,” said Bay Warburton, HammondCare At Home General Manager.

Lorraine, a retired dressmaker, enjoys a regular visit from artist Shirley Cambitzi at her Dee Why home where the two work with watercolours on landscapes, portraits and still life works. Another artist, Vanessa Leary, has also spent time with Lorraine.

“The amazing thing is how I can get lost in art. It takes my mind off everything,” Lorraine said.

“I know I am working on something worthwhile that my children and grandchildren can have long after I am gone if they want.”

Image caption: HammondCare At Home client Lorraine Carroll with artist Vanessa Leary.