A craft and
textile project designed around six men who lived in a residential
home. A man who had been in institutional hospital care for
many years was resettled in the home. As a way to support
him in this transitional time a STAA artist and occupational
therapist from Edward Street Hospital worked with the group
over twenty sessions.
An observation of one session’s activities
by Professor David Jolley as part of Dementia Plus West Midlands’
Evaluation of STAA in 2004:
DJ was able to sit in on a morning toward the end of this
project.
It was a wonderful experience. Within the framework of a
very ordinary Nursing Home routine, something special had
been established. It was understood that on Friday mornings,
the men would set up and set to work.
In the absence of a dedicated space (room), the dining room
had been drawn into commission. Table became workbenches (hammer
marks to prove it). Most of the residents of the Home are
women. The men are in the minority and generally ill-at-ease
with the quietude of the regime. To gain their interest in
anything, particularly their positive interest was a challenge.
But a few came along and eventually seven became a workforce.
The artist began to explore their backgrounds and interests
and thoughts on what to do. Hammers came in early. The sound
of hammering was accepted as music to the ears, a music at
odds with the expectations of quiet and acceptance of care
and feminine values.
So we hammer and we are men at work.
Michael, Andy, Brian, Sid, Harold, Professor Morriarty and
Malcolm adopt particular benches and set about their creative
works. Some have continued to hammers, other paint or mould,
stack, collect or whatever. All are creating something which
comes from them and their past.
They talk as they work. Talk to the artist, the staff helpers
who are allocated time to the project, the OT whose enthusiasm,
passion and care flood generously over everyone and everything.
They talk with each other and even with me (DJ). Surprising
lives, surprisingly thrown together. One with a life almost
wholly confined to institutions, in extraordinary contrast
to another who has travelled the world and carried responsibility
for many employees, brought together in common need and silence.
And the workplace has a structure and hierarchy:
- Tea break, naturally.
- A runner, more able than the rest, and finding kudos and
perhaps profit in collecting monies and disappearing to
fetch cigarettes, sweets and a newspaper.
- Consoling a frustration.
- Chatting up the pretty young helpers.
- Grumbling about or showing off to the visitor.
- Confiding that the food is not as good it might be.
- Wishing we had a shed or somewhere to do the work without
threat of disruption.
- But here is the bell! Have to make way for lunch.
- Surely we can continue. There is much still to be done.
- To hear the planning and exploration strategy from the
artist and OT is poetry in itself. Each man respected, valued
and loved back into being from anonymity.
To hear the planning and exploration strategy from the artist
and OT is poetry in itself. Each man respected, valued and
loved back into being from anonymity.
The art community, or community of artists, emerges as a
prophet sect of our time, seeking and rescuing individuals
for themselves and each other, for all of us.
The two young helpers, care assistants within the Home, demonstrated
talent, interest and wit. Both were uplifted and excited by
the experience, were being encouraged to apply their new skills
and confidence at other times during the working week and
had thoughts to extend their training. They were involving
other members of their families in developing themselves and
their ideas.
The Officer in Charge of the Home is astonished that the
men have become involved at all. She knows they have looked
forwards to Fridays and dreads to loss when the project ends.
She hopes her helper trainees will be able to carry on. The
presence of the activity has had a positive impact on the
life of the Home. She has sympathy with the idea that a special
place should be created/set aside for such activities.
Other residents commented favourably.
Families of the men have commented happily on the venture.
Some have come along, there was a son present at the session
DJ observed. They have contributed materials, photographs,
stories and been pleased to share humour and pride based on
a life they have shared, which had seemed lost before its
time.
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