Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-mlc7c Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T15:03:42.711Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Connecting Socially Isolated Older Rural Adults with Older Volunteers through Expressive Arts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 March 2016

Ann MacLeod Open the ORCID record for Ann MacLeod [Opens in a new window] ,
Mark W. Skinner ,
Fay Wilkinson  and
Heather Reid
Ann MacLeod*
Affiliation:
Trent-Fleming School of Nursing, Trent University
Mark W. Skinner
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, Trent University
Fay Wilkinson
Affiliation:
Registered Expressive Arts Consultant/Educator, Ontario
Heather Reid
Affiliation:
Past-Director, U-Links Centre for Community-Based Research, Ontario
*
*La correspondance et les demandes de tire-à-part doivent être adressées à: / Correspondence and requests for offprints should be sent to: Ann MacLeod, MPH, BScN, RN Trent-Fleming School of Nursing Trent University 1600 West Bank Drive Peterborough, ON K9L 0G2 (annmacleod@trentu.ca)
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

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.

Résumé

Utilisant une approche participative basée sur la recherche dans le domaine des arts, nous avons examiné un programme novateur de l’Ontario rural, Canada, conçu pour répondre à l’isolement social chez les personnes âgées. Les personnes âgées qui étaient socialement isolées ont été jumelées à des bénévoles formés; en dyades, les huit paires ont créées de l’art expressif chez elles au cours des dix visites à domicile. Utilisant une enquête thematique et narrative, nous avons analysé les expériences et les perceptions du programme du chef, des participants plus âgés, et des bénévoles plus âgés à travers leurs créations artistiques, les journaux hebdomadaires, les évaluations et le carnet d’opérations.

Les résultats révèlent une intervention réussie qui influencent positivement le bien-être des participants plus âgés et les bénévoles plus âgés, en particulier en ce qui concerne les relations, le développement personnel, et en la création du sens, ainsi que l’extension de l’impact de l’intervention au-delà de la durée du programme. Nous discutons aussi possibilités pour des programmes similaires pour la politique et permet des services sociaux positifs à l'isolement rural basés dans les communautés.

Keywords

agingarts-based researchexpressive artsolder volunteersparticipatorysocial isolationvieillissmentrecherche basée sur les artsparticipatifbénévoles plus âgésvieillissement en milieu ruralisolement social
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 35 , Issue 1 , March 2016 , pp. 14 - 27
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2016 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Brown, K., Hoye, R., & Nicholson, M. (2012). Self-esteem, self-efficacy and social connectedness as mediators in the relationship between volunteering and well-being. Journal of Social Service Research, 38(4), 468–483.Google Scholar
Bryant, C. R., & Joseph, A. E. (2001). Canada’s rural population: trends in space and implications in place. The Canadian Geographer, 45, 132–137.Google Scholar
Bungay, H., & Clift, S. (2010). Arts on prescription: A review of the practice in the UK. Perspective in Public Health, 130(6), 277–288.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Camic, P. M., Clift, S., & Daykin, N. (2009). The coming of age for arts and health: What we hope to achieve. Arts & Health, 1(1), 3–5.Google Scholar
Canadian Institute of Health Information (CIHI). (2011). Health care in Canada, 2011: A focus on seniors and aging. Retrieved 15 December 2015 from https://secure.cihi.ca/free_products/HCIC_2011_seniors_report_en.pdf Google Scholar
Castora-Binkley, M., Noelker, L., Prohaska, T., & Satariano, W. (2010). Impact of arts participation on health outcomes for older adults. Journal of Aging, Humanities and the Arts, 4(4), 352–367.Google Scholar
Cloutier-Fisher, D., Kobayashi, K., & Smith, A. (2011). The subjective dimension of social isolation: A qualitative investigation of older adults’ experiences in small social support networks. Journal of Aging Studies, (25), 404–414. doi:10.1016/j.jaging.2011.03.012Google Scholar
Cook, S., & Speevak Sladowski, P. (2013). Volunteering and older adults. Commissioned report from Volunteer Canada. Retrieved 15 December 2015 from http://volunteer.ca/content/volunteering-and-older-adults-final-report Google Scholar
Cohen, G. D. (2009). New theories and research findings on the positive influence of music and art on health with ageing. Arts & Health, 1(1), 48–62. doi:10.1080/17533010802528033Google Scholar
Corbin, J., & Strauss, A. (2008). Basics of qualitative research, (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Cox, S., Lafreniere, D., Brett-MacLean, P., Collie, K., Cooley, N., Dunbrack, J., et al (2010). Tipping the iceberg? The state of arts and health in Canada. Arts & Health, 2(2), 109–124.Google Scholar
Crooks, V. A., Williams, A., Stajduhar, K., Robin Cohen, S., Allan, D., & Brazil, K. (2012). Family caregivers’ ideal expectations of Canada’s Compassionate Care Benefit. Health & Social Care in the Community, 20(2), 172–80.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Finley, S. (2003). Arts-based inquiry in QI. Qualitative Inquiry, 9(2), 281–296.Google Scholar
Forbes, D., & Edge, D. (2009). Canadian home care policy and practice in rural and remote settings: Challenges and solutions. Journal of Agromedicine, 14, 119–124.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fraser, K. D., & Al Saya, F. (2011). Arts-based methods in health research: A systematic review of the literature. Arts and Health, 3(2), 110–145.Google Scholar
Gallant, K. A., Arai, S. M., & Smale, B. J. (2013). Serious leisure as an avenue for nurturing community. Leisure Sciences, 35(4), 320–336.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gavan, T. (2010). Art lends voice to personal history. The Haliburton County Echo. Retrieved from Google Scholar
Gottlieb, B., & Gillespie, A. (2008). Volunteerism, health and the civic engagement among older adults. Canadian Journal on Aging, 27(4), 399–406.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Greaves, C., & Farbus, G. (2006). Effects of creative and social activity on older people. The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, 26(3), 134–142.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hansen-Kyle, L. (2005). A concept analysis of healthy aging. Nursing Forum, 40(2), 45–67.Google Scholar
International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA). (n.d.). What are the expressive arts? Retrieved from www.ieata.org Google Scholar
Joseph, A. E., & Skinner, M. W. (2012). Voluntarism as a mediator of the experience of growing old in evolving rural places and changing rural spaces. Journal of Rural Studies, 28, 380–388.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Keating, N., Swindle, J., & Fletcher, S. (2011). Aging in rural Canada: A retrospective and review. Canadian Journal on Aging, 30(3), 323–338.Google Scholar
Lander, D., & Graham-Pole, J. (2008). Art as a determinant of health. Commissioned by The National Collaborating Centres – Determinants of Health. Retrieved from http://artshealthnetwork.ca/resources/art-determinant-health Google Scholar
Leavy, P. (2009). Method meets art: Arts-based research practice. London: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
MacLeod, A. Skinner, M. W., & Low, E. (2012). Supporting hospice volunteers and caregivers through community-based participatory research. Health and Social Care in the Community, 20(2), 190–198.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Martin-Matthews, A. (2011). Ten years of the CIHR Institute of Aging: Building on strengths, addressing gaps, shaping the future. Canadian Journal on Aging, 30(2), 285–290.Google Scholar
Markle-Reid, M., Browne, G., & Gafni, A. (2013). Nurse-led health promotion interventions improve quality of life in frail older home care clients: Lessons learned from three randomized trials in Ontario, Canada. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, (19), 118–131.Google Scholar
Menec, V. H., Means, R., Keating, N., Parkhurst, G., & Eales, J. (2011). Conceptualizing age-friendly communities. Canadian Journal on Aging, 30(3), 479–493.Google Scholar
McCance, T., McCormack, B., & Dewing, J. (2012). An exploration of person-centredness in practice. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 16(2). doi:10.3912/OJIN.Vol16No02Man01Google Scholar
McTaggart, R. (1991). Principles for participatory action research. Adult Education Quarterly, 41(3), 168–187.Google Scholar
Minkler, M. (2000). Using participatory action research to build healthy communities. Public Health Reports, 115, 191–197.Google Scholar
Moody, E., & Phinney, A. (2012). A community-engaged art program for older people: Fostering social inclusion. Canadian Journal on Aging, 31(1), 55–64.Google Scholar
Newman, S., Andrews, J., Magwood, G., Jenkins, C., Cox, M., & Williamson, D. (2011). Community advisory boards in community-based participatory research: A synthesis of best processes. Preventing Chronic Disease: Public Health Research, Practice and Policy, 8(3), 1–11.Google Scholar
Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). (2007). Age friendly rural and remote communities. Retrieved 15 December 2015 from http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/seniors-aines/alt-formats/pdf/publications/public/healthy-sante/age_friendly_rural/AFRRC_en.pdf Google Scholar
Rozanova, J., Keating, N., & Eales, J. (2012). Unequal engagement for older adults: Constraints on choice. Canadian Journal on Aging, 31(1), 25–36.Google Scholar
Sandelowski, M., & Barroso, J. (2007). Handbook of synthesizing qualitative research. New York, NY: Springer.Google Scholar
Sinha, S. (2013). Living longer living well. Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. Retrieved 15 December 2015 from http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/common/ministry/publications/reports/seniors_strategy/docs/seniors_strategy.pdf Google Scholar
Stickley, T., & Hui, A. (2012). Social prescribing through arts on prescription in a UK city: Participants’ perspectives. Public Health, 126, 574–579.Google Scholar
Stuckey, H., & Nobel, J. (2010). The connection between art, healing and public health: A review of current literature. American Journal of Public Health, 100(2), 254–263.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tesch, L., & Hansen, E. (2013). Evaluating effectiveness of arts and health programmes in Primary Health Care: A descriptive review. Arts & Health, 5(1), 19–38. doi:10.1080/17533015.2012.693512CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wadensten, B. (2007). The theory of gerotranscendence as applied to gerontologic nursing-Part 1. International Journal of Older People, 2, 289–294.Google Scholar
Wilkinson, F., MacLeod, A., Skinner, M. W., & Reid, H. (2013). Visible voices: Expressive arts with isolated seniors using trained volunteers. Arts and Health: An International Journal for Research, Policy and Practice, 5(3), 230–237. doi:10.1080/17533015.2013.817447CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
White, M. (2009). Arts development in community health: A social tonic. Oxford, England: Radcliffe.Google Scholar