As part of our project
to embed creative arts practice into our work with older people, we ran a
special training day for a group of artists and volunteers.
The training, which was
designed by specialist trainers from Age UK, gave the participants information
and strategies, and covered working with older people with specific needs
including those who have difficulties with mobility, visual impairment, loss of
hearing, Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Through a series of
simulations participants were able to get a sense of what it feels like to have
some of these conditions. Tasks included making conversation with someone
wearing silencer earmuffs to experience what it feels like to communicate with
reduced hearing; and walking about whilst wearing a range of goggles that
mimicked the effect of some of the different conditions which reduce vision. Taking
part in these activities helped to give participants a better understanding of
some of the conditions many older people live with and to consider how they
could respond to these issues in their work and practice.
The next stage of the
project will see the artists using the knowledge they gained from the training
to develop creative activities which will allow older people to overcome some
of the barriers they face to participating and enable them to engage with
architecture and the built environment.
This project has been funded
by Arts Council England.
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