Project title
Description of initiative
How can a cultural intervention be embedded in the setting of a care organisation for older people? That is what the initiators are trying to find out in this international research project. Through participatory action research with clowns, family members, care staff and management of care organisations, they investigate the dynamics of the way in which all these actors play a part in providing good care for people with dementia.
Further information on the initiative
Themes: Culture and...
Keywords
Target group
Cultural field
Timeframe
Sources of funding
Results, benefits, impact and lessons learnt
They have built learning communities in two locations in The Netherlands, one location in Germany and one location in Austria. Together with care staff, family members and clowns, the initiators are investigating the co-operation between them. They used different creative research methods and members of the learning community went off to interview their peers about the way they view clowning and the co-operation between clowns and themselves. They have found so far for instance, that many care staff and family have pre-conceived ideas and fears about clowns: "I just don't like them" "They are here to make a fool out of me/my next of kin" "Do they even know anything about dementia?". The conversations between the clowns and family members and care staff have proven to be very useful, as the fears and stigma about clowning were laid out on the table and discussed. This already proved to be an important step in reducing the fear and resiliance against clowns. The clowns became more aware of how family members or care staff might view them, and realised they needed to pay just as much attention to making them feel safe as they do to the people with dementia whom they are meeting that day. Family members and care staff realised the clowns are professionals, and have the same goal as them: to contribute to the quality of life of people with dementia.