National Day of Arts in Care Homes: the importance of arts in care homes

Involving people who live in care homes in the creative arts can bring lots of benefits - it encourages people to express themselves, keep active and have fun. At Exemplar Health Care, we encourage and empower people to take part in a range of everyday arts activities that are meaningful to them.

Creativity and artistic expression are all around us – they’re a natural part of life and make a huge contribution to our wellbeing and quality of life.

In its widest sense, the arts contributes to so many areas of ‘Outstanding’ care – it encourages people to be independent, supports their identity, aids lifelong learning, inspires creativity and builds friendships.

Exemplar Health Care is committed to ensuring that our residents have choice and control over their day-to-day lives, and are supported to do things that are meaningful to them – including ‘the arts’.

Making the arts part of everyday life

When we think about the arts, we need to look at the bigger picture.

Art is all around us – from a piece of wood carving on the side board, to a family photograph, an embroidered table cloth, or a toe tap along to a favourite song. 

It’s important that we understand the meaningful expressions of art in our day-to-day lives, so that we can support and empower our residents to maintain their interests and make new ones.

Vicky loves getting creative by arranging flowers for our Greenside Court care home in Rotherham.

The sandcastle competition at our Dearnevale home in Barnsley brought out people’s creative side this summer!

Group activities to support the arts in care homes

Lots of art-themed activities can take place in groups, and this is something that our care homes offer for residents.

Group activities, although not for everyone, encourage social interaction and a sense of inclusion, countering the loneliness and isolation that people might feel when moving into a new home.

Residents at our Willowbeck home in Sheffield worked as a team to make decorations for their recent Wildlife Awareness Day.

For National Writing Day in June, we set our residents the challenge of writing a poem based on the theme of summer.

A holistic approach to care at Exemplar Health Care

At Exemplar Health Care, our community-based homes and OneCare services provide person-centred care and rehabilitation that focuses on maximising independence, building everyday living skills and empowering people to live as fulfilled lives as possible.

We support people on their journey from being in hospital following a brain injury, to community and independent living, as well as offering longer term support for people living with degenerative or life-limiting illnesses.

Our approach is personalised to the individuals that we support – we work with them, their loved ones and professionals to design a care plan that’s tailored to their needs and goals. We encourage people to continue to do the things that they enjoy, as well as develop new hobbies and access education, employment and volunteering if they wish.

Find an Exemplar Health Care home

Exemplar Health Care has over 30 homes across Yorkshire, the Midlands, North East and North West that provide a welcoming and supportive environment where people can feel at home, continue to do the things that they enjoy, and remain closer to family, friends and loved ones.

Find your local care home here, or make a referral here.

Rewarding careers in social care with Exemplar Health Care

If you or someone you know is interested in working in adult social care, Exemplar Health Care offers a range of rewarding careers. Find out more about your career options and our vacancies here.