Wandering in care homes: the role of artists in reimagining walking performed by people living with dementia

ABSTRACT

Walking by those living with dementia is often pathologically labelled ‘wandering’, an act lacking a clear purpose or destination. Walking in this context is not widely understood or valued, except as physical exercise. Drawing on walking performances by other artists and the author’s own arts-based research, during which she walked outdoors and in care homes with people living with dementia, this article explores the role that the performance and conceptualisation of walking by artists can play in challenging and reimagining walking undertaken by people living with dementia.

KEYWORDS:

• Walking
• wandering
• dementia
• arts
• performance

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on contributor

Jayne Lloyd is an artist who works across sculpture, drawing, film and performance. She is a Senior Lecturer and Course Leader of MA Inclusive Arts Practice at the University of Brighton and a Research and Evaluation Associate at Paintings in Hospitals. Her research focusses on arts and dementia, arts in health and social care environments, the role of arts-based research and the intersection between inclusive arts practices and art made for exhibition.

Notes

1 My PhD research critically engaged with Reminiscence Arts and Dementia Care: Impact on Quality of Life (RADIQL). RADIQL was a 3-year programme of creative activities for care home residents living with dementia which ran from 2012 to 2015. It was designed and led by Age Exchange Theatre Trust and funded by Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Charity.

2 The research was conducted by a team of researchers from Royal Holloway, University of London. The other members of the research team were: Professor Helen Nicholson, Professor of Applied Performance; Dr Frank Keating, Senior Lecturer in Social Work; Dr Laura Cole, a social psychologist.

3 The participant’s name has been changed to conceal her identity in accordance with the ethical approval the research received.