1. Connectivity and Social Capital through the visual arts
Andrew Newman
Dementia and Imagination – introduction
Research methods
Visual arts enrichment activities
Connectivity and social capital
The impact of cognitive and physical decline on connectivity and social capital
Connectivity and social capital through arts enrichment activities
Discussion
Conclusion

2. Connectivity and social capital
Social capital as a way of understanding the quality of relationships which are not well explored/understood.
Association between health and wellbeing and being embedded in social capital rich networks is well established, including less chance of dementia – however, causation is hard to demonstrate.
Studies tend to emphasise how people in later life receive support – see them as being passive.
Most of the work originates from quantitative studies – which have value but are unable to explore the lived experience of people in later life living with dementia.

3. The impact of cognitive decline and frailty
Loss of associational memberships over time
The impact of behavioural changes associated with dementia on kin and non-kin relationships
Emotional support from memories of family members who are deceased
Family and friend relationships being restricted because of geographical distance
Loss of bonding relationships – practical help available, but some have lost emotional support – particularly in care homes.

4. Connectivity through the visual arts
I thought it was good and I thought how good love, care and attention they paid us. You see, I’m on my own, I feel as if I don’t belong anywhere; you made me feel I belonged. And the people were nice. Well, for a certain part of the day, when I went there, I wasn’t lonely and I wasn’t counting the hours until I went to bed, you know, it’s awful that is. Well, I think it did me good; I enjoyed it. It’s one afternoon I went up there and I wasn’t lonely; it was like having another family.

5. Connectivity through the visual arts
Once upon a time there was a cottage on a hill. There was a river running in front of the cottage called the Scotswood Road River.
It ran down the hill and into the Ocean. In the cottage lived the girls who worked in Haggies Ropery as well as just three men. One day it began to rain. The people who lived in the cottage thought they heard a person screaming outside.
It rained and rained and the river swelled and the people in the cottage were afraid and gathered their belongings and prepared to escape to Haggies factory where they would be safe.
They gathered together their best things, photographs, liggies, a best coat, pyjamas and couple of grandads.

6. Connectivity through the visual arts
As part of the session they also sang the local song the Blaydon Races unprompted which reflects that culture they shared.
The participatory artists, carers or family members who were from a different age cohort and were often from elsewhere in the country were unable to contribute to the content.
The narrative they created referenced things they were aware of in the news as well as remaining memories that they had woven together which are associated with the preservation of self.

7. Connectivity through the visual arts
The exchanges needed to create the story were symbolic and help to develop and maintain relationships through recognition.
This form of bonding social capital (links with those of a similar age, ethnicity and class) provided respondents with ties that strengthened exclusive identities from North East England, UK, and provided emotional support that was perhaps not available elsewhere in their lives.
This might be described as the development of a ‘relationship culture’ which can be focused around shared memories.

8. Connectivity through the visual arts
Links with family members associated with visual arts enrichment activities
The family still come in and they’ll be dancing and they’ll be giving him things to feel and touch. The trip to the <Gallery in North East England metropolitan city 1>, was a really good day for him, a really good day because he was smiling at the colours and, you know, his granddaughter was there with him which made it extra special for him.

9. Conclusion
The visual arts enrichment activities provide opportunities for people in later life with dementia to connect and to interact.
Compensating for the loss of emotional support associated with dementia and frailty.
Participants not passive recipients of care but active in negotiating their own sense of self.