Arts and Creativity

Toolkit and free online learning courses on evaluating arts and creativity programmes for older adults

maresa.fagan@publichealth.ie — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 10:58:34 +0000

Toolkit and free online learning courses on evaluating arts and creativity programmes for older adults maresa.fagan@p… Mon, 22/04/2024 - 11:58

Toolkit and free online learning courses on evaluating arts and creativity programmes for older adults

Ageing

Arts and Creativity

25 Apr, 2024

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Public Health Evaluation Toolkit: Assessing the Impact of Arts and Creativity Interventions for Older People

Summary of Public Health Evaluation Toolkit: Assessing the Impact of Arts and Creativity Interventions for Older People

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Access the free online learning courses

The Institute of Public Health (IPH) has launched an evaluation toolkit and two new online learning courses on how to use evidence to show the benefits of Arts and Creativity in later life.

IPH launched the new resources at a Healthier Ageing through Arts and Creativity webinar today, 25 April, where details of a new evaluation toolkit and online learning pathways were presented by Toby Finch, a member of the ageing team at IPH.

The toolkit - Assessing the Impact of Arts and Creativity Interventions for Older People: A Public Health Evaluation Toolkit – provides a ‘how to’ guide for assessing the impact of arts and creativity interventions for older adults.

The digital learning pathways - Arts and Creativity: Lessons for Active Ageing and A How to Guide – Evaluation Methods for Arts and Creativity Programmes – were developed by IPH for its Public Health Matters online learning platform.

The new online courses provide evidence on the benefits of arts and creativity in later life and a step-by-step practical guide, for those designing or delivering programmes, on how to use evaluation methods to show the benefits for older adults.

The new resources were developed on foot of an evidence review conducted by IPH, which highlighted the need for an evaluation toolkit for the arts and creativity sector to be able to better measure, record and assess the impact of their programmes.

The 2021 report, ‘Arts and Creativity in Later Life: Implications for Public Health and Older People’, reviewed more than 70 international studies investigating the potential health and wellbeing benefits of dancing, music and singing, visual and creative arts, and drama and theatre and found that arts and creativity can help improve physical, psychological, and social health and wellbeing in older adults.

The webinar also featured a panel discussion with input from Stephanie McKervill from Arts Care NI; Dominic Campbell from Creative Aging International; and Dr Tara Byrne from Age and Opportunity.

IPH Director of Ageing Research & Development Professor Roger O’Sullivan, who led the development of the new resources said: “These new resources build on our previous work highlighting the benefits of engaging in group-based arts and creativity in later life, which were shown to improve the physical, psychological, and social health and wellbeing of older adults. This work also identified the need to develop ways of evaluating arts and creativity interventions for older adults and today we are delighted to launch an evaluation toolkit and learning pathways that will provide practical guidance on assessing the value, benefits, and impact of such programmes.

“These new resources are available, free of charge, on our Public Health Matters platform and will support organisations working with older adults at a community, local, or national level on how to evaluate and measure the impact of their arts and creativity programmes and interventions,” Professor O’Sullivan added.

Evaluation Toolkit

Assessing the Impact of Arts and Creativity Interventions for Older People: A Public Health Evaluation Toolkit
A summary of the evaluation toolkit is also available here.

Online learning courses

The following new learning pathways are available on IPH's Public Health Matters online learning platform:

Arts and Creativity: Lessons for Active Ageing
A How to Guide: Evaluation Methods for Arts and Creativity Programmes.

Webinar on Healthier Ageing through Arts and Creativity to launch new resources

maresa.fagan@publichealth.ie — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 09:23:51 +0000

Webinar on Healthier Ageing through Arts and Creativity to launch new resources maresa.fagan@p… Wed, 27/03/2024 - 09:23

Webinar on Healthier Ageing through Arts and Creativity to launch new resources

Arts and Creativity

27 Mar, 2024

The Institute of Public Health (IPH) is hosting a Healthier Ageing through Arts and Creativity webinar to launch a number of new resources on using evidence to show the benefits of Arts and Creativity in later life.

IPH is launching an evaluation toolkit and two new online learning pathways that will provide practical guidance on how to assess the impact of arts and creativity interventions in later life.

These new resources follow the publication in 2021 of an evidence review on how arts and creativity can have positive outcomes for older people’s health and wellbeing.

Toby Finch from IPH's ageing team will present details of the Toolkit for Assessing the Impact of Arts and Creativity Interventions for Older People and the following online learning pathways :

Arts and Creativity: Lessons for Active Ageing
How to Guide for Evaluation Methods for Arts and Creativity Programmes.

The learning pathways were developed by IPH for its Public Health Matters platform.

As part of the webinar, IPH Director of Ageing Research and Development, Professor Roger O'Sullivan, will chair a panel discussion with input from Stephanie McKervill from ArtsCare; Dominic Campbell from Creative Aging International; and Tara Byrne from Age and Opportunity.

Register Here

Blog: The importance of arts for older people’s health and wellbeing

maresa.fagan@publichealth.ie — Thu, 04 May 2023 11:16:45 +0000

Blog: The importance of arts for older people’s health and wellbeing maresa.fagan@p… Thu, 04/05/2023 - 12:16

Blog: The importance of arts for older people’s health and wellbeing

Ageing

Arts and Creativity

22 Jul, 2022

In this blog, Laura McQuade from the Institute of Public Health, explores the role of the arts to support population health.

Over the last number of years there has been a growing cognisance of the positive health benefits that arts and creativity programmes can have on society.1 A recent scoping report commissioned by the World Health Organisation in November 2019 considered the role of the arts in improving health and wellbeing outcomes for all ages and highlighted that the arts can affect social determinants of health through developing social cohesion and reducing social inequalities. The arts play an important role for child development, the promotion of health behaviours, and the prevention of ill health.2

Taking part in the arts is a pastime enjoyed by many. The arts can create opportunities for self-expression, creativity, inspiration, exploration of ideas and can provide a sense of accomplishment. It also can promote positive feelings and emotions and be a form of escapism for some.

Arts can be expressed using many different mediums such as performing arts like dance, music, singing, drama and theatre, or visual arts like painting, drawing, photography, sculpture and crafts. It can also be experienced through literature, writing, reading and poetry as well as through culture such as museum, art exhibitions and galleries. In addition, there are also many online and digital arts emerging over the last number of years such as animations and filmmaking etc.

Our ageing population is growing, and we are living longer than ever before. Whilst the population are benefitting from living longer lives, many can encounter a number of significant public health and wellbeing challenges across the life course. Events such as retirement or bereavement can affect older people in terms of their physical, social and emotional wellbeing.

Older people can become increasingly susceptible to loneliness, social isolation and exclusion.3 Furthermore, as people age, they can become more vulnerable to disease, long term ill health conditions, injury and mental health disorders.4 All of these concerns can negatively affect their health and wellbeing, however by reducing the associated risk factors, these burdens can be reduced or prevented.

During Covid-19, extraordinary and unprecedented Public Health Social Measures were taken to reduce the spread of infection and protect our most vulnerable in society. This has greatly limited our social interactions and shared experiences, and have deprived many from the usual opportunities to take part in creative and cultural activities.

Participation in the arts can help improve the lives of all of us, particularly older people. Achieving a healthy lifestyle is enjoyed by many in later life and being involved in arts and creative activities can be a way of alleviating or prevention the deterioration of health. It can encourage health promoting behaviours, healthy living and can enable older people to express what is important to them.

Some research suggests that participation in the arts may have positive physical benefits by contributing to increased physical activity levels, decreased sitting time and a reduction in the risk of frailty.5,6 Likewise, participation in the arts may have positive psychological benefits such as enhance brain function, cognitive reserve, life satisfaction, quality of life and self-esteem.7,8

Further research highlights that the arts may also help reduce psychological distress and mental illness.9 Furthermore, that arts programmes can help forge community cohesion and social connections.2 It can also help improve understanding and knowledge, encompassing the experiences of older people through intergenerational arts programmes.10

Although there is evidence that art-based interventions are effective in reducing adverse physiological and psychological outcomes, the extent to which these interventions can enhance health and wellbeing is still limited and more evidence on what works and why it works is required.

The Institute of Public Health is undertaking research to understand the current evidence base that exists in relation to the role of participation in the arts; and examine the impact of arts and creativity on older people’s health and well-being.

References

1. Mental Health Foundation. An Evidence Review of the Impact of Participatory Arts on Older People. 2012.

2. Fancourt D, Finn S. What is the evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being? A scoping review. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2019 (Health Evidence Network (HEN) synthesis report 67).

3. Shankar A, McMunn A, Banks J, Steptoe A. Loneliness, social isolation, and behavioral and biological health indicators in older adults. Health Psychol. 2011 Jul;30(4):377-85.

4. World Health Organisation. Global status report on noncommunicable diseases 2010. Description of the global burden of NCDs, their risk factors and determinants.

5. Britten L, Addington C, Astill S. Dancing in time: feasibility and acceptability of a contemporary dance programme to modify risk factors for falling in community dwelling older adults. BMC Geriatr. 2017;17(1):83.

6. Cruz-Ferreira A, Marmeleira J, Formigo A, Gomes D, Fernandes J. Creative dance improves physical fitness and life satisfaction in older women. Res Aging. 2015;37(8):837–55.

7. Johnson J, Louhivuori J, Stewart A, Tolvanen A, Ross L, Era P. Quality of life (QOL) of older adult community choral singers in Finland. International Psychogeriatrics. 2013;25(7):1055-1064.

8. Castora-Binkley M, Noelker L, Prohaska T, Satariano W. Impact of Arts Participation on Health Outcomes for Older Adults. Journal of Aging, Humanities, and the Arts. 2010;4(4):352-367, DOI: 10.1080/19325614.2010.533396.

9. Fancourt D, Tymoszuk U. Cultural engagement and incident depression in older adults: evidence from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Br J Psychiatry. 2018;214(4):225–9.

10. Anderson S, Fast J, Keating N, Eales J, Chivers S, Barnet D. Translating Knowledge: Promoting Health Through Intergenerational Community Arts Programming. Health Promotion Practice. 2017;18(1):15–25.

Blog: How creative arts can support positive ageing

maresa.fagan@publichealth.ie — Thu, 04 May 2023 10:53:23 +0000

Blog: How creative arts can support positive ageing maresa.fagan@p… Thu, 04/05/2023 - 11:53

Blog: How creative arts can support positive ageing

Ageing

Arts and Creativity

15 Mar, 2021

In this blog Laura McQuade from the Institute of Public Health provides some insights into how the creative arts can support positive ageing.

The longevity dividend of the last century has added decades onto people’s lives through improved public health – better water, air, healthcare, vaccinations, and living and working conditions.

But there is much still to be done to extend the full benefits of a longer, healthier old-age to everyone.

In recent years there has been a focus on the role of the arts in improving population health and wellbeing throughout the life-course.

In 2019 the WHO launched its first report on the evidence base for arts and health interventions.

“Over the last decade there has been an increase in evidence looking at the relationship between the arts for improving health and wellbeing. In some jurisdictions we’ve also seen developments in policy,” Laura McQuade from the Institute of Public Health said. Laura’s work focuses on evaluating interventions to improving population health as we grow older.

“The WHO report represents the most comprehensive scoping review on this topic so far. It looked at over 3,000 studies and identified a major role for the arts in the prevention of ill health, the promotion of health; and the management and treatment of illness throughout the life-course,” Laura continued.

The arts and creativity are a pastime enjoyed by many, and it takes many forms. It can be performance arts (like dancing, singing and theatre) or visual arts (such as painting, film, crafts or photography). There’s also literature, museums and galleries and online activities.

Maureen Murray is just one person who believes the arts has a positive impact on her health and wellbeing. She is one of the participants on several arts programs run by Age & Opportunity.

“I’ve dabbled in the arts and creativity,” says Maureen (66) who lives in Dublin. But she has done much more than that. The former bank official has been learning tapestry weaving; drawing via Zoom; cooking soufflé; involved in theatre productions; and learning to drive for the first time.

Maureen said: “My husband passed away four years ago…for the first couple of weeks it was weird being stuck in the house and not having anybody or places to go. But I am quite happy with myself, I have pushed the boat out and learned a couple of things.

“You grow networks. I’ve become involved in strange and wonderful groups of people.

“Anybody who has been cut off from family and friends over the last six months have found that some part of their mental health has been suffering. We have all missed the hugs and the kisses, the camaraderie. One good thing that has come out of COVID is we have learned to use technology more; we’ve learned to interact with people online. It might not necessarily be the healthiest, but at least it is better than watching TV at home sitting on your own.

“I had an engagement with a soufflé a couple of weeks ago, I’ve never made one before. You kind of think about it, then you get the ingredients, and then you try it. I gave it ago and I made a mess of it, but I tried it a second time and it didn’t come out any better; so I said to myself I’ve ticked that box, I’ll move on and learn something different. If you keep talking to yourself about learning something new, unless you give it a go you will never do it, it is just a thought.”

Listen to Maureen’s tips on trying something new :

Institute of Public Health · Maureen Murray

Laura believes the international evidence is becoming more clearer that the arts, and trying new creative things, has a positive impact on our health and wellbeing.

She points to the evidence that the participating in the arts can play an important role in the promotion of positive health, and for mitigating or preventing the deterioration of health in later life.

“For example, when we consider different art and creative activities, research has shown that being involved in the arts can improve our mental and social health and wellbeing. Art forms such as dance can also help improve our physical health by improving our balance and keeping our muscles strong, which can help reduce the risk of frailty,” said Laura. “It can also enhance our brain function and some evidence has shown music and singing can help reduce anxiety and depression.”

And while aware that there is a digital disconnect of which we must be mindful when considering how to support people during COVID-19, Laura says there are a lot of opportunities for people to get involved in the arts online.

She said: “In Northern Ireland, for example, we know that just 55% of people aged 65 and over have used the internet compared to over 98% of people aged 16-24. So, we must be aware of the digital divide. But there are a lot of good supports online. We have seen singing lessons, art classes, museums and even galleries moving online and live streaming. The more we can support people to connect, the better.”

And for anybody, especially older people, who are anxious about their abilities or trying something new – Maureen has this advice.

Listen to Maureen on how our abilities do not change because we age:

Institute of Public Health · Maureen Murray

New report highlights positive health and wellbeing impacts of arts and creativity in later life

maresa.fagan@publichealth.ie — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 12:22:41 +0000

New report highlights positive health and wellbeing impacts of arts and creativity in later life maresa.fagan@p… Wed, 22/03/2023 - 12:22

New report highlights positive health and wellbeing impacts of arts and creativity in later life

Ageing

Arts and Creativity

28 Sep, 2021

Arts and creativity has an important role to play in health and wellbeing in later life and can help improve physical, psychological, and social health and wellbeing in older adults, a new report published by the Institute of Public Health (IPH) has found.

The report, ‘Arts and Creativity in Later Life: Implications for Public Health and Older People’ reviewed more than 70 international studies investigating the potential health and wellbeing benefits of dancing, music and singing, visual and creative arts, and drama and theatre.

The research carried out by the Institute of Public Health found:

Dance is particularly beneficial for improving balance, mobility, strength, flexibility, physical activity, as well as improving cognitive function.
Music and singing can provide improvements in cognitive function and improved emotions.
Music and singing and visual arts can help improve quality of life, social connections, and a sense of wellbeing.

The findings have significant implications for both public health and the arts and creativity sector, according to the authors of the comprehensive review, especially with low participation in arts and creativity by older people.
There is clear evidence that participating in arts and creative activities can have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of older adults. This suggests that the benefits of taking part in arts and creativity should be more widely promoted in later life.

IPH Evaluations and Interventions Officer, Laura McQuade, co-author of the report said: “Given the health and wellbeing benefits, there is an opportunity to encourage more adults in Ireland and Northern Ireland to take part in arts and creativity as they grow older.”

The review also identified a knowledge gap in how arts and creativity interventions are evaluated for their return on investment in health and social terms.

To bridge that gap, IPH commissioned researchers Professor Ciaran O’Neill and Dr Grainne Crealey from Clinical Costing Solutions to review how the economic benefits of arts and creativity interventions are evaluated.

This review found that arts and creativity interventions could be cost-effective and offer value for money but recommended improvements to how such programmes are evaluated into the future.

“Arts and creativity interventions have the potential to improve the health and wellbeing of older adults at relatively low cost and such interventions can be accessible and scalable without the need for significant infrastructural investment. The methods used to assess their relative value need to evolve if such interventions are to compete with other activities intended to improve health and wellbeing,” Dr Crealey and Professor O’Neill said.

Arts & Creativity

Arts and creativity encompass a diverse range of activities and mediums through which we can express ourselves, from performance arts (dance, music, singing, drama and theatre) to visual arts (painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, and crafts) to literature, writing, reading and poetry, museums, art exhibitions and galleries.

Evidence of health benefits for older people

This review assessed 73 studies from 18 separate countries, half of which related to dance.

The available evidence was ranked as strong, promising, or preliminary.

It was not possible to compare the health outcomes or benefits of each activity given variation in the volume of evidence available.

Dance

There is:

strong evidence that regularly taking part in group dance can enhance balance and mobility, improve physical strength and flexibility, increase aerobic capacity and endurance, and increase physical activity levels.
promising evidence that dance is associated with improvements in body composition, lipid and inflammatory profiles, as well as improving cognition and brain function.
preliminary evidence that dance can help improve independence in daily living activities and reduce the fear of falling.
preliminary evidence that dance can help alleviate depression and boost mood or self-esteem in older adults living with mild cognitive impairment or age-related macular degeneration.

Music and singing

There is:

promising evidence that regularly taking part in group singing and music classes is linked with improved cognitive function, quality of life, and preserving a sense of wellbeing.
preliminary evidence to suggest an association between group singing and enhanced respiratory function.
initial evidence that music and singing can help improve resilience and reduce loneliness but more evidence is needed.
qualitative evidence that taking part in group singing and music activities can enhance wellbeing, and help develop new skills, positive relationships, a sense of belonging and increased social networks.

Visual and creative arts

There is:

preliminary evidence that visual and creative arts can help to reduce feelings of loneliness and improve a sense of community and social connectedness.
qualitative evidence that participation in visual and creative art group programmes can help improve cognitive abilities, develop new skills, and provide opportunities to develop new relationships and social connections.
promising evidence that visual and creative arts programmes, like creating watercolour paintings and art making, can help improve wellbeing in older adults living with dementia.

Drama and theatre

There is:

preliminary evidence that regularly taking part in drama and theatre classes can provide emotional wellbeing benefits although more research is required.

Click to access the reports:

Arts and Creativity in Later Life: Implications for Health and Wellbeing in Older Adults. Executive Summary

webadmin — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 16:15:31 +0000

Arts and Creativity in Later Life: Implications for Health and Wellbeing in Older Adults. Executive Summary webadmin Tue, 28/02/2023 - 16:15

Arts and Creativity in Later Life: Implications for Health and Wellbeing in Older Adults. Executive Summary

Ageing

Arts and Creativity

1 Sep, 2021

Downloads

Arts and Creativity in Later Life: Implications for Health and Wellbeing in Older Adults. Executive Summary

The research carried out by the Institute of Public Health found: Dance is particularly beneficial for improving balance, mobility, strength, flexibility, physical activity, as well as improving cognitive function. Music and singing can provide improvements in cognitive function and improved emotions. Music and singing and visual arts can help improve quality of life, social connections, and a sense of wellbeing.

Arts and Creativity in Later Life: Implications for Health and Wellbeing in Older Adults

webadmin — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 16:14:12 +0000

Arts and Creativity in Later Life: Implications for Health and Wellbeing in Older Adults webadmin Tue, 28/02/2023 - 16:14

Arts and Creativity in Later Life: Implications for Health and Wellbeing in Older Adults

Ageing

Arts and Creativity

1 Sep, 2021

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Arts and Creativity in Later Life: Implications for Health and Wellbeing in Older Adults. A Systematic Evidence Review

Arts and Creativity in Later Life: Implications for Health and Wellbeing in Older Adults

A review of economic evaluation methodologies for the assessment of arts and creativity interventions for improving health and wellbeing in older adults

webadmin — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 16:07:44 +0000

A review of economic evaluation methodologies for the assessment of arts and creativity interventions for improving health and wellbeing in older adults webadmin Tue, 28/02/2023 - 16:07

A review of economic evaluation methodologies for the assessment of arts and creativity interventions for improving health and wellbeing in older adults

Ageing

Arts and Creativity

1 Sep, 2021

Downloads

A review of economic evaluation methodologies for the assessment of arts and creativity interventions for improving health...

InBrief: Does arts and creativity have a role to play in improving health and wellbeing in older adults?

webadmin — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 13:08:34 +0000

InBrief: Does arts and creativity have a role to play in improving health and wellbeing in older adults? webadmin Mon, 27/02/2023 - 13:08

InBrief: Does arts and creativity have a role to play in improving health and wellbeing in older adults?

Arts and Creativity

28 Sep, 2021

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InBrief: Does arts and creativity have a role to play in improving health and wellbeing in older adults?

InBrief: Arts and creativity in later life has positive health and wellbeing impacts

webadmin — Sun, 12 Feb 2023 11:42:33 +0000

InBrief: Arts and creativity in later life has positive health and wellbeing impacts webadmin Sun, 12/02/2023 - 11:42

InBrief: Arts and creativity in later life has positive health and wellbeing impacts

Arts and Creativity

Ageing

1 Feb, 2022

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InBrief: Arts and creativity in later life has positive health and wellbeing impacts

This InBrief summarises the findings of a recent IPH report, ‘Arts and Creativity in Later Life: Implications for Public Health and Older People’, which found that arts and creativity can help improve physical, psychological, and social health and wellbeing in older adults. The report reviewed more than 70 international studies investigating the potential health and wellbeing benefits of dancing, music and singing, visual and creative arts, and drama and theatre.