Creative Care Home Communities
Chris Gage won a night onboard A Room for London with his idea to develop care homes as creative hubs to integrate them into their local communities. He was resident in the Room on Tuesday 25 September 2012.
What's your idea?
That by establishing care homes as creative community hubs they can become vibrant, connected places that are a pleasure to live and work in. We will create structures, training and support that enable care settings to use creativity in all its forms as a way for people to come together, connect as equals, and make a contribution irrespective of age, frailty, illness or impairment. We expect, from the body of evidence into the positive health and social impact of the arts and creativity, to improve people's health and their wellbeing, to build communities, and make the local care homes a place that you want to go to.
When were the first seeds of the idea sown?
The first seeds we're sown 13 years ago when I ran my first project creating theatre with people living in residential care. The idea was nurtured through the time when my grandmother was living in a care home with undiagnosed dementia, and I became really aware of how isolated and miserable she was, and also of her capacity for joy, laughter and a quality life, it was just a question of the environment created around her. The work has really flourished since I started running Ladder to the Moon, and established our mission to build wellbeing for everybody that makes up the care community through creativity, management and staff development.
Who have you invited to dinner in A Room for London to help develop the idea?
TBC!
What single thing would you like to happen that evening to help your idea get off the ground?
The thing I'd most like to happen is for the people around the table to become passionate about the idea, and committed to lend their support to grow the project. The idea is already off the ground thanks to pilot funding from the Baring Foundation and we are currently developing the first version of this programme at a home in Barnet run by Jewish Care.
How would you describe your relationship to London?
I was born in London, and we moved when I was five, and have been back and forth ever since. I love walking through London, whether it’s in the suburbs of west London on my way to see my grandparents, or up from Camden on my way to the office, or across the Thames, it's always inspiring, and often surprising, and most of all I love the creativity and diversity of the people I meet.
How are you feeling about spending the night on board?
I can't wait. It's a unique opportunity both to be with inspiring people and to be in an amazing space. I just hope that my wife doesn't go into labour. Our first child is due three weeks after the night ...