The quest for a beautiful sunset: Living with dementia in a care home

Written by Dr Gill Windle, Professor of Ageing and Dementia Research, Bangor University.

In the UK, estimates suggest seventy per cent of people living in residential care homes have a dementia or severe memory problems (e.g., Alzheimer’s Society 2018). The provision of specialist dementia care is now a necessary focus of the care home sector.

At this point, think about your own lives – your home, the things you like and value there – the comfy sofa, your favourite books and music, your pets, your power-shower. You may be married, have children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. You may have travelled the world, enjoyed socialising, having a few drinks in the garden on a sunny weekend. You always appreciate a beautiful sunset. You get the picture.

Our project ‘Creative Conversations’ examines the potential of the arts as a tool for dementia care staff development. We decided to do this because we know that when staff have taken part in arts activities for people living with dementia, although they are not the target of the activity, they often report deeper understanding of the people they care for. We want everyone to appreciate a beautiful sunset.

Before moving on to the next step, where you will learn more about the Creative Conversations programme, take a moment to think about the day-to-day things, however small they may be, that you value. These may be things that you usually don’t tell anyone else about. Also think about your loved ones, the people you may live with, or your nearest friends. What do they value?