Artistic residents at a care home have played a starring role in a ground-breaking new film.
The popular weekly art sessions at Pendine Park’s Penybryn care home in Wrexham were the focus of the shoot commissioned by the older people’s charity, Age Cymru.
Among those interviewed were the home’s manager, Tracey Cuthill, and Sarah Edwards, Pendine’s consultant artist-in-residence, who leads the art classes, and talented chainsaw sculptor Paul Morris, who works on the maintenance team.
Sarah said it is a great honour for Pendine Park to be asked to take part in the film which aims to put the spotlight on examples of best practice in social care.
She said: “It puts us in the position of a role model for others to follow. That is great testimony to the hard work we have done and the goals we have achieved over the years.”
Sarah heads up the arts-themed enrichment activities across Pendine’s family of homes which also includes specialist dementia centres at Hillbury, Wrexham, and in Bryn Seiont Newydd, Caernarfon.
Film-maker Jon Ratigan said Pendine Park was approached to take part in the film because it is renowned for its recreational and enrichment activities including therapies which promote a sense of well-being and inspire imaginations.
Jon uses one to one interviews and recordings of real-life experiences to demonstrate how activities such as arts, crafts and music can uplift the mood of people living in care.
The project is funded by the Welsh Government and the resulting film will be a central element of a new educational ‘toolkit’ to be made available for access by health professionals across Wales.
Age Cymru Arts and Creativity Programme Manager Kelly Barr is the co-ordinator for the toolkit.
She said: “This toolkit brings together a wealth of resources and examples from care homes themselves to equip staff, residents, and communities with the means to provide the best possible experiences for older care home residents.”
“It will be packed with examples of best practices, including innovative activities like silent discos, pen-pal schemes with local schools, and pet therapy.
“There will also be practical tools and tips to enhance person-centred care, foster meaningful connections, and integrate families and communities into residents’ lives.”
Kelly said the film was a crucial element to the toolkit because it allowed people to see for themselves how different, sometimes non-conventional, therapies can be successfully used to enhance people’s lives.
She said: “From our visit to Penybryn today it is evident how what can seem like the simple hobby of painting a picture can actually bring immense pleasure. It can trigger a person’s imagination, focus their attention away from themselves and lead them to a more creative and potentially restorative line of thought.
“By highlighting the success of these kind of activities and therapies on film we hope to be able to encourage their use in other care settings, for the benefit of those in care, their families and care staff.
“Ultimately this toolkit resource is set to benefit residents, their families, and care home staff across Wales by creating environments that foster wellbeing and enrich lives.”
She was thankful to everyone at Pendine Park for allowing them to film there.
At least four arts sessions are held each week at Penybryn and Sarah has forged strong links with other community organisations which have now used Pendine Park residents’ artwork in local events.
She said: “For instance we created colourful lanterns for an opera on the theme of the Gresford Colliery Disaster, which was performed at the North Wales International Music Festival. Our lanterns decorated the aisles of St Asaph cathedral on that occasion, something of which our residents were very proud.”
Sarah said the arts sessions are open to all residents, even if they have never before picked up a paintbrush or a crayon.
She said: “Art is a form of expression which can be used by anyone. Our residents have many different complex conditions, some cannot use their hands or struggle with tremors, but with patience and time we will find a way for them to join in. We have had people paint with their feet, use their mouth to hold a paintbrush, or just paint with their fingers. Some of the resulting works have been remarkable.”
Penybryn manager Tracey Cuthill said: “I think the art provision we provide is phenomenal and it makes such a huge difference to so many of our residents.
“Our enrichment activities practitioners, Nicky Clarke and Elaine Lee, are brilliant in assisting with the arts sessions and running other enriching activities for residents.
We always consult with residents about what they would like to be included in our enrichment programme. It is important that nothing is imposed on them, it is always an inclusive decision-making process.”
Interviewed by film-maker Jon, resident Carole Ball told him: “If it were not for Sarah and the art sessions I think I would go bonkers. I never dreamed I would end up in care at this stage in my life but now I am here I have to make the best of what I can. These arts sessions are a social activity as well as a chance to express my feelings on paper. It is so therapeutic, it is what gets me up in the morning.”
Pendine Park maintenance operator Paul Morris said: “I totally understand how important art is for our residents here.
“The arts team here do an incredible job and the more that these innovations are spread throughout the care sector the better for everyone. If this film helps that happen, then I am 100 per cent for it.”
