Students Visit the MHSOP Dementia Wards

On Monday 6th February, BA (Hons) Creative and Therapeutic Arts students from the University of South Wales (USW) worked with the staff at Mental Health Services for Older People (MHSOP), University Hospital Llandough, to deliver creative arts sessions for dementia patients. This is part of a collaborative project between USW, the Arts for Health and Wellbeing Team, Cardiff & Vale Health Charity and CAVUHB.

After receiving further training from the Dementia Learning and Development Team, four groups of students each decorated a large box and filled it with materials and instructions to create pieces of art with the general theme of celebration, as the NHS will be turning 75 this year. The activities explored a variety of engaging techniques, accessible to those with limited mobility.

On the day, the activity boxes were delivered to four wards by the students, who then spent the day collaborating with participants to make vibrant pieces of art. Refocussing Nurses also joined each group to take part in the sessions, and to ensure everything ran smoothly. Patients were engaged with the various processes, and connected with the students through sharing life stories. The flowing conversations often stemmed from the materials and techniques included in the activity boxes.

The remaining materials and instructions were gifted to the wards for future use, and the next step for the students is to reflect on the sessions, and to make artworks in response to the pieces created by the patients. The project will culminate in an exhibition at the Hearth Gallery 9th May – 19th June 2023, and will display artwork made by the students as well as some of the pieces created by the patients.

The Hearth Gallery has been supporting Dementia Awareness since 2017, and will be hosting this exhibition during Dementia Action/Awareness Week 2023 (16th – 22nd May 2023).