Creative One-To-One

During Lockdown, Carmarthenshire County Council Commissioned People Speak Up to create a bespoke virtual day centre programme for older people living in isolation throughout Carmarthenshire. Hybrid Day opportunities was then developed. A bespoke hybrid delivery service, using a storytelling approach to support the carer and the cared for. Due to the success of the outcomes of that project – Creative one to one was then commissioned by Carmarthenshire County Council and The West Wales Carers Development Group from March 2023 – September 2023.

Creative one to one has supported 7 carers and 7 cared for on a weekly basis. The project offered a weekly home visit and group session at the Ffwrnes Fach, Llanelli’s arts, health and wellbeing hub. Carers were welcomed to undertake and enjoy the sessions with the person they care for, or to take a break from their caring role and have time for themselves while the person they care for is engaged in the service. The project focused on engaging people in creative opportunities such as creative writing, music, storytelling, games and visual arts, music, singing, dancing.

Attendance figures
Total number of carers benefitted: 7
Total number of cared for: 7
Total number of participants attended sessions at the Ffwrnes Fach: 220
Number of home visits: 203

Case Study

(Participant names have been anonymised)

Bill and Susan

Bill and Susan have been having 1 home visit a week and attending out Elevenses group weekly. Susan was diagnosed with dementia in 2017. Activities that have taken place are – singing, sensory play, playing piano on the ipad, playing musical instruments. Bill took the time to show us his motorbike, the art on the walls and the story behind it. This gave us an indication that the home visits benefitted both Bill and Susan. With this in mind, when there were two PSU facilitators visiting, we would often play with the dynamics of one facilitator engaging with Bill and the other focusing on Susan. This Allowed for them to each have time to engage in different conversations / activities. Meaning they were having a break from their caring roles but whilst still being present in the same space together. As soon as Susan would hear music, she would whistle along, her eyes would light up and she would sometimes show her engagement by holding our hand.

"Susan loves it in the Ffwrnes fach because everyone makes a fuss about her."

Questions answered by Bill (Susans carer and husband)

1 - How long have you been a carer?
Six years

2 - As a carer, are there any obstacles that you face while caring for someone? What would help with that?
Main obstacles are the feeling of helplessness in trying very hard to care for someone who is your life partner and the time that it can take to get any kind of help. Covid didn't help, but even now organisations and authorities are hiding behind Covid excuses to do very little. Now help is available, but with the Social Care system still in chaos, as Carers we still have to provide care 24/7. The other issue is lack of Respite Care for a few days, especially when someone has little mobility.

3 - Do you feel that having some time for yourself may better your experience / relationship of being a carer?
It is a huge help in having a break, to recharge, knowing that Susan is being cared for, even with a sitting service.
Yes, now have Crossroads Care support on Monday for 4 hours. Tuesday was 2 hours Buddy Care who took Jean out in the car, that will shortly increase to 4 hours. Wednesday and Thursday , Susan goes to the Day Centre originally Garnant, currently Gwynfryn until Garnant reopens in June, I take her in at 9am and collect her at 4 pm. She also has food, drinks and dinner at the Day Centre. Fridays we attend the PSU Elevenses Group in Llanelli, which we look forward to every week.

A special moment playing volleyball in the gardens of the Ffwrnes Fach, Llanelli’s arts, health and wellbeing hub.

Case Study

(Participant names have been anonymised)

Jess and Robert

Robert is Jess’s carer and husband. Jess was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2021. They both attended the weekly Elevenses sessions and a home visit once a week. During the home visits, Robert took this opportunity to have time for himself. They would then attend the Elevenses sessions together. Activities that have taken place are – Movement, arts and crafts, storytelling. During our visits, Jess has expressed multiple times how she feels there is not enough information on dementia, she has had an idea to create something that can be shared via the internet to raise awareness. This generated discussions in one of our Elevenses sessions. During the session the group openly talked about their experience with dementia, the struggles they face and had a conversation about how they each deal with the different situations that come up in day-to-day life. After the session, Jess was grateful and commented “It was so great to have that open chat with everyone, it would be great if we did it again with more organisations in the room.” This is a very important subject and the team suggested creating a video or podcast with her. She was open to the idea but due to her dementia advancing and having more bad days – she has not felt up to it. However, this did inspire another member of the elevenses group who did create a podcast with artist Rufus Mufasa.

Information from Robert with regards to his caring role:

1 - I have been a carer officially for about two years, following Jess’ diagnosis of altzheimers, but previous to the diagnosis I was caring for Jess for some years.

2 - Caring for Jess is a twenty four hours a day, every single day activity.
Activities include doing the household cleaning, washing, cooking and shopping. Maintenance within the household, the garden, and vehicle maintenance, as well as responsibility for personal and public transport.
Dealing with nurses, doctors and chemists and their administrators to ensure Jess has the correct medication available at the correct time, and that Jess actually takes the medication

The list goes on and is considerable, but the most tiring aspect is the constant responsibility for another persons health, welfare and happiness, especially when the person you are caring for cannot always tell you what is wrong, and I do have physical issues of my own, lack of mobility etc.

What would help is someone, or an organisation, to take responsibility for any of the activities listed above even if a single activity were removed (cleaning etc.) it would release me to have more time to relax, taking pressure off my shoulders. What prevents me from taking the opportunities offered by organisations to carry out some of the activities, such as gardening, cleaning, washing, vehicle maintenance is cost, there are lots of organisations offering regular help, but at a high cost

3 - Having some time away from my carer role would help me as the carer, it would also give Jess the beneficial experience of communicating with people other than myself.

4 - I do not currently have any support as a carer

When checking in with Robert with regards to his reflections of the project – he commented how his caring role had become increasingly difficult. Jess now has a social worker who takes her out every Friday, meaning she misses the Elevenses session. With the assistance of People Speak Up – she is also now on the waiting list to attend a day centre once or twice a week. With this in place, Robert feels he will be able to have more time for himself and a better balance in life.

Jess and Robert now attend our over 50s social group every Monday where they both engage in various activities such as movement, music, visual arts, storytelling, writing. Robert has also started attending our Men in Conversation group. – A group for men to come together, talk and create.

The Men in conversation group. A group for men to come together to chat, connect and create.

Case Study

(Participant names have been anonymised)

Rosie and julia

Julia is Rosie’s daughter and carer. Rosie lives alone and her daughter lives in Cardiff. This results in Rosie spending a lot of time on her own. She has carers coming in daily. She does not leave the house. Her daughter is keen to bring her down when she has time, but Rosie is apprehensive to leave the house as it has been so long since she last did so.

Julia comments on being a carer for Rosie:

1 - How long have you been a carer?
I have been a carer for my mother for seven years.

2 - As a carer, are there any obstacles that you face while caring for someone? What would help with that?
It has been difficult at times especially during covid but we coped.

3 - Do you feel that having some time for yourself may better your experience / relationship of being a carer?
During the last few years I've had three surgeries which did make life very difficult. Fortunately I have a wonderful husband and he's been very supportive. 

4 - Are you currently having any additional support for yourself as a carer?
My mother has carers going in four times a day and that has helped greatly.

During Rosie’s visits, various activities took place such as storytelling, poetry, games. Ruth would share many of her stories about how she travelled through Canada and America, showing photos of her family members that were around the living room. When she told these stories, she would be fully immersed and happy in the telling of it as if she was back in those moments. We often showed Rosie videos and photos of what we have been doing in the Ffwrnes Fach as she loved to visually see what’s been happening in the other groups. She seems to enjoy when we bring a piece of the outside world to her as she no longer goes out. Rosie recently turned 99 and shared her birthday cake with us when visiting. Julia commented how she was excited to tell us all about her birthday celebrations where all the family came from England to visit.

When speaking with Julia about the potential of Rosie joining one of the groups, she has said that it is her aim as she has a car suited to take her. Rosie has commented that she would love to come along but Julia has mentioned that she won't do it due to not leaving the house for years. This is something that will take longer to work on, to build the confidence to make those steps.

Julia’s reflections on the project:

"I must thank your staff their visits have really helped to break up the week for both myself and my mother. The service is brilliant, it’s amazing that you have the time to do it, I was telling Rosie’s neighbours, and she couldn’t believe how good it sounded"
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Additional Findings

It was requested on multiple occasions to do a “group meet” where we would meet all the participants together in a public space such as a local café. We did this 5 times throughout the project, and this gave a chance for them all to build a friendship outside of the Elevenses sessions. Which has resulted in them going out to groups and for lunch without us being involved. "I love the group meetings" "It’s so wonderful to be out and about all together."

A couple, who have been attending the elevenses group and home visits have now moved to a care home in Blackpool due to needing more care, and this would mean being closer to family. The participants of this project have connected with one another, so this was a big moment for everyone. However, the participants still contact the couple and they often send photos of their time in Blackpool, which are then shared in the Elevenses sessions. This shows that regardless of distance, the group have built a connection that goes beyond this project. They aim to connect via zoom into one of our sessions soon.

In conclusion, there is a huge need for the service. To enable those who are isolated to have time to talk, be listened to, be creative and to have their voice heard, even at a point where they may feel they no longer have one. As stated in the findings, some participants transitioned to attending the groups and some did not. For those who may take much longer to join a public group, it's essential that the focus is put on making their home life engaging and comfortable. This can be done by bringing activities and conversations to them that allows them to immerse themselves in. Creative activities can allow them to engage with something even on the days where nobody is visiting, as they can build on the creations on their own. Meaning that they have a positive focus throughout the week and not just on specific days. For this to happen, time is essential. As it takes some people longer than others to build trust and confidence to the point where they are willing to be a part of a community group with other people. It is also evident that more support and information is needed for the carer and cared for.
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Quotes

"Look, she’s smiling now that PSU are here"
"One thing I do know is how much my mother values your visits"
"My mother loved your visits; she would be very interested in continuing"
"Your visits have been very special"

Project Photos

For more information, please contact:

Eleanor Shaw
Sylfaenydd/Cyfarwyddydd Artistig a Busnes
Founder/Artistic & Business Director

Tel: 07972651920