Arts in Health program
The project is a collaboration between Murrumbidgee Local Health District, the Art Gallery of NSW and Health Infrastructure.
Transforming clinical settings
The Arts in Health Multipurpose Service (MPS) Pilot Project is an innovative program which provides aged care residents at three facilities in the Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) in regional NSW with access to professional and quality arts engagement experiences.
The project is a collaboration between Murrumbidgee Local Health District, the Art Gallery of NSW and Health Infrastructure.
MLHD - Multipurpose Service Arts in Health Pilot Project
Commencing in April 2021, this is a three year initiative delivered at Murrumburrah-Harden Health Service, and Culcairn and Tumbarumba Multipurpose Services. The sites were selected as they are recent redevelopment projects delivered under the MPS Stage 5 Program by Health Infrastructure. The pilot will conclude in July 2024.
“The impact of the program extends the reach of the Art Gallery of NSW beyond its four walls and into the regions of NSW in significant ways. This program is transforming these new MPS facilities from clinical to homelike settings, with anticipated clinical and wellbeing benefits for residents.”
Minister for the Arts Don Harwin, 2021
The Pilot Program is modelled on similar Art Gallery of NSW programs created for people with a lived experience of dementia.
A curated display of 20 high quality, framed reproductions and an associated program of purposeful activities and materials will be provided at each facility to engage aged care residents in self-guided, one-on-one and group activities led by trained staff.
The artworks and resources will be rotated across the three sites annually so that residents can enjoy the full collection of 60 artworks and associated activities.
An evaluation will be undertaken of the pilot program over the three years to assess its suitability for future implementation across the state.
Artworks
Works selected from the Art Gallery of NSW Australia collection include Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists such as Roy Kennedy, Margaret Preston, Arthur Streeton and Thea Proctor. Visit the Art Gallery of NSW project webpage for a preview of the artworks.
The program supports non-pharmacological approaches within residential aged care settings. Research indicates engagement with the arts for those living with dementia, stimulates brain function resulting in improved speech, which is important for communication with families, staff and residents to engage with each other. This has positive benefits on many of the behavioural impacts of a dementia diagnosis.
Importantly, the program’s social and cultural approach provides a meaningful way for aged care residents to connect with others, particularly during periods of isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Innovative approaches that maintain communication and relationships are vital to ensure ongoing connection with communities.
Residential aged care environments are governed by a set of standards.
For MPS sites, such as Harden, Culcairn and Tumbarumba, the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards can be linked to the aims of the Arts in Health initiative. They include:
Standard 2: Partnering with consumers ensures person centred care and there is a focus on community and consumer involvement. Specifically consumers have an integral role in the healthcare they receive and are involved in the governance, design, measurement and evaluation of healthcare. These systems need to reflect the diversity of the consumers who use the service or the diversity of the local community.
Standard 5: Comprehensive Care intention is partner with consumers when providing comprehensive care and minimising patent harm. It ensures that consumers are involved in their own care in a way that meets their information needs and there are systems in place for shared decision making. It also discusses collaborating with patients, carers and families to manage or minimise risks of delirium, self-harm or aggressive or violent behaviour.
Visit the Clinical Excellence Commission webpage for more information.
Training
The Art Gallery of NSW and Health Infrastructure is providing professional training and on-going professional development opportunities to health staff and guidance for community and family members to equip them to facilitate the program directly in their communities.
The project is a collaboration between Murrumbidgee Local Health District, the Art Gallery of NSW and Health Infrastructure.
Funding
The pilot initiative is funded as part of the NSW Government $297 million Multipurpose Service (MPS) program, providing improved access to health and aged care services in rural and remote communities. In-kind support is provided by the three partnering organisations with the Multipurpose Service Program funding the production of the prints and resources.
The program is based on research by the Art Gallery of NSW and University of NSW Liveable Communities Together: Art and Dementia program
Watch a short documentary on the program developed for people living with dementia
Read the report: Arts engagement for people with dementia
How creative arts are helping enrich the lives of people with a lived experience of dementia. A video about WoMAP: an Art Gallery of NSW collaboration with Sydney Local Health District