Pioneering initiative that will model future provision of Reminiscence Arts in Care
Reminiscence Arts and Dementia – Impact on Quality of Life (RADIQL), is a three year programme created by Age Exchange. The programme aims to provide a model of excellence in the provision of person-centred creative care for older people in South London. It seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing for the older people who participate in the programme, specifically those with dementia.
The initiative has been funded with a grant of £595,500 from Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity in line with their ambitions to support innovation in health which will improve the health and wellbeing of the population of the two London Boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark, but which may influence changes in policy and practice more widely.
RADIQL aims to identify and develop a new form of reminiscence and arts practice to be piloted in end of life care, in care settings and the community in Southwark and Lambeth. It will enable participants to engage in therapeutic reminiscence arts activity, as well as increase their social interaction. The aim of the intervention is to improve mood and self-esteem and reduce levels of isolation, unhappiness and depression. RADIQL will also provide activity in Healthy Ageing Cafés, a support group for carers, and on-going mentoring and training for carers in reminiscence and arts based methodology.
The programme will be delivered by teams of Age Exchange practitioners both through group work and the provision of one to one sessions for those benefiting from focused individual support. They will work closely with professionals and family carers to ensure that the new model of care is informed by their shared expertise and experience.
The intervention will be evaluated by King’s College London and Royal Holloway University of London. Following the initial two years of practice, and informed by the evaluation, Age Exchange will create a new professional role of Reminiscence and Creative Carer as part of its plan to embed the new approach across SE London and more widely
Reminiscence Arts and Dementia – Impact on Quality of Life, is a partnership programme between: Age Exchange, Alzheimer’s Lambeth and Southwark, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.
Age Exchange will keep the public updated with information about the programme as it develops over the next 3 years.
“This major award from The Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity is an important recognition both of the need to explore new approaches to creative care for older people with dementia, and the role that Age Exchange, with its unique expertise, can play in partnership with others, in working to establish new practice in reminiscence and creative care. We are grateful to The Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity for supporting this pioneering programme and to everyone who has worked with us to secure this grant.”
(David Savill, Artistic Director, Age Exchange)
