Remembering and forgetting: using photographs as social artefacts in an aged care setting

Abstract

Visual methodologies employed within qualitative research projects can add deep insight and reflexivity to interview or observational data and are an ideal means to facilitate storytelling, reminiscence and encourage socialisation. This paper draws upon research using photography as a dual-purpose data collection and data dissemination tool within a residential aged care environment and explores the role they can play in resident socialisation and wellbeing in institutionalised settings. Using multiple lens-based methods, the research examined how photographs can act as artefacts of homeless and the ways this can contribute to the construction of identity and well-being post-transition to care. By exploring how photographs demarcate spaces and invoke memory, the work addresses how photographs can assist with the transition from the resident’s home environment to the aged care space. Whilst the dominant method employed was Photo Elicitation, collaborative and socially engaged photographic practices were also employed using participatory methods to create new photographic memories, which were then displayed and discussed publicly. This paper will report on and illustrate the effectiveness of photographic methods within institutionalised spaces, the ways in which it can give agency to the residents and the role of the researcher in visual research practices.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The author would like to thank the residents and staff of the case study aged care facility for so generously engaging with the research. The project received ethical clearance by the Human Ethics committee (approval number 160000000260) and the participants approved the selected images for publication. This research was supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tricia King

Dr. Tricia King is a Lecturer in Photography in the School of Business and Creative Industries and active documentary photographer. Her research focuses on photography, its role in personal and cultural memory, and the construction of identity. Utilising techniques like photo-elicitation, documentary and collaborative photography, Tricia develops collaborative participant driven projects working predominantly with people experiencing social isolation.