Co-creating resilience with people living with dementia through intergenerational arts

ABSTRACT

This article considers how intergenerational arts can help support the resilience of people living with dementia. Theorising a moment of process from Magic Me’s Reflections of Stepney, it analyses how art facilitators help a child and care home resident to overcome the challenge of relating and create a performance together. It particularly considers the possibilities offered by touch as a way for participants to connect. It argues that a creative process which focuses on a physical relationship can help facilitate resilient responses in the co-creation of meaningful relationships between participants living with and without dementia.

KEYWORDS:

• Resilience
• dementia
• intergenerational arts
• relational citizenship
• touch

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work is supported by the South, West and Wales Doctoral Training Partnership.

Notes on contributors

Chloé Bradwell

Chloé Bradwell is a drama practitioner and current South, West and Wales DTP funded PhD candidate at the University of Exeter and Aberystwyth University. Chloé has held the positions of Activity Manager and Research Associate in care homes and continues working as a freelance drama practitioner in dementia care.