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Home > Resources > Connecting Socially Isolated Older Rural Adults With Older Volunteers Through Expressive Arts

Connecting Socially Isolated Older Rural Adults With Older Volunteers Through Expressive Arts

description

Employing a participatory arts-based research approach, we examined an innovative program from rural Ontario, Canada, designed to address social isolation among older people. Older socially isolated adults were matched to trained volunteers, where in dyads, the eight pairs created expressive art in their home setting over the course of 10 home visits. With thematic and narrative inquiry, we analysed the experiences and perceptions of the program leader, older participants, and older volunteers via their artistic creations, weekly logs, evaluations, and field notes. The findings reveal a successful intervention that positively influenced the well-being of older adult participants and older volunteers, especially in regards to relationships, personal development, and creating meaning as well as extending the intervention’s impact beyond the program’s duration. We also discuss opportunities for similar programs to inform policy and enable positive community-based health and social service responses to rural social isolation.

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subject terms

Aging & Longevity

Aging & Longevity > Health

Aging & Longevity > Positive Aging

Aging & Longevity > Purpose

Aging & Longevity > Social Interaction & Isolation

Community Engagement

Community Engagement > Community Based Learning

Community Engagement > Public Sector

Creative Aging

Creative Aging > Arts Education

Creative Aging > Creative Aging Model

Creative Aging > Social Engagement

contributors

Ann Macleod

Reid

Mark Skinner

Fay Wilkinson

related organization

Trent University School of Nursing

resource type

Research and Studies

year

2016

Founded in 2008, Lifetime Arts catalyzes and connects the people, funding, practical strategies, and bold ideas necessary to embrace all older adults as creative and social learners.

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