Research undertaken by Professor Frank Keating demonstrated the positive effects of arts practice on improving the lives of people with dementia in care homes.
Project Overview
There are currently around 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK, and arts organisations are responding by working creatively in care homes. Research undertaken at Royal Holloway by Professor Frank Keating with the sector-leading charity Age Exchange, informed Reminiscence Arts, a new multi-sensory methodology inspired by the creativity of people living with dementia and the positive contribution they continue to make to others.
The objective evidence provided by Keating’s research confirms that people with dementia are positively affected by Age Exchange’s work; their quality of life has not only improved it has been shown to have improved. Age Exchange continues to build its work and profile based on the overwhelming evidence provided by Keating’s research.
Key Achievements
Professor Frank Keating developed a methodology that established the effectiveness of reminiscence arts, an innovative form of creative practice designed for people with advanced dementia that blends storytelling and art-making. His research showed positive increases in mood and behaviours of people with dementia.
Prior to Keating’s research, Age Exchange only had anecdotal evidence that arts and reminisce practice is beneficial for people with dementia. Keating’s research provided strong evidence that the quality of life of participants improved significantly during the intervention. Based on this overwhelming finding, the reminiscence arts intervention was rolled out to 6 care homes in South London.
Age Exchange’s 2019 impact report stated: “Age Exchange’s evidence based model of Reminiscence Arts (RADIQL), first tested and evaluated in residential care in Southwark and Lambeth between 2012 and 2015, had a measurable impact on the wellbeing and behaviour of residents with a diagnosis of dementia who participated in the programme. Independent evaluation of the RADIQL programme found that the well-being of residents with dementia who participated, increased by 42%, and positive behaviour by 25% during the course of the programme”.
Impact 1: Improving a Public Service Agency
On the basis of Keating’s research, Age Exchange was transformed as a charity. The research resulted in a new sense of identity and purpose and an evidence-base for presentation of their work.
The Artistic Director said: "Royal Holloway’s research has revitalised our charity. It helped us learn a language we didn't know, and it helped us practise in a different way. We can now articulate a vision of dementia care, we can now say confidently what Reminiscence Arts is about and that it has measurable benefits’. In 2016 Age Exchange trademarked their reminiscence arts model ‘RADIQL™’ , which added significant value to their work. Keating’s research is cited in Age Exchange’s 2019 Impact Report".
Age Exchange has extended their RADIQL™ training and support programme for reminiscence arts practitioners and community workers, informed by, and benefitting from Keating’s research. The training programme is delivered locally, nationally and internationally, for example, in Canada, Hungary and Poland.
Impact 2: Informing UK Government Policy in Arts in Dementia Care
Age Exchange has directly drawn on Keating’s research to seek to influence parliamentary policy debates on the role of the creative arts in promoting well-being. The findings were presented at an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Roundtable on Arts and Dementia in 2017; were included as a case study in the Inquiry report of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Arts, Health and Well-being and cited as an example and evidence of the beneficial impact of the arts on dementia.
The findings from the report was used by the APPG and a consortium of public agencies to develop five policy briefings on culture, health and well-being, which the APPG included in their submission to the Culture White Paper Consultation by the Department for Culture, Media and Arts in 2017. A final outcome of this consultation was the establishment of The National Centre for Creative Health that was launched in 2020.
