The best kind of care is like sunshine’ accessing older people’s views through
creative writing
Christine Brown-Wilson
Josie Tetley
Joan Healey
River Walton
Story telling, narratives and creative
writing
• Recent renewed interest;
• Long history in health and social care;
• Provide insights into peoples meaning,
context and perspective of their situation;
• Can give insights into the effects of
culture, history to individuals’ views of
illness, care and treatments.
User involvement in health and social care
• Increased pressure for and interest in
user involvement in research and
practice development
• Questions about which users involved
and consulted
• Voices and views of older people in care
homes
Storytelling/creative writing
• Process
• Power
• Practice
• Prose or poem
• Planned activity
• used by people to make
sense of events;
• communicate values and
identity of self, can
contribute to active
ageing and wellbeing;
• flexible but supported
writing activities;
• art of writing;
• needs time, resources
and support
The workshops
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One care home in large northern city
Open to all residents
Participants recruited by activity coordinator
Seven workshop over eight weeks
Up to 10 people in each
One to one assistance
2 hours in length with a break
Each person given own book
Consent sought regarding project teams access to
and use of personal writing outputs.
Content of workshops
• Introductory – warm up activity – e.g.
acrostics
• Themed activity – e.g. using prompts
• Supported writing activity
• Sharing personal writings with the group
The writings
• Writings read and considered in entirety,
• Reflection on process of and writings that
emerged from workshop activities,
• Thematic analysis
Five key themes
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being confronted by loss;
unlocking memories;
re-discovering the self;
change and adaptation;
giving and receiving care.
Being confronted by loss
On reflection, I can see how strongly the
writing group confronted participants with
the loss of their abilities to write and to
read. At the beginning several expressed
their frustration at not being able to read
books any more, and their keen sense of
having lost the literature they loved.
River Wolton- writer/ workshop facilitator
Unlocking memories
• This key opens the gate to a beautiful
garden, stirring memories of past times
spent sitting there, in happier times, the
sun on my back (Joan)
Re-discovering the self
Just a short little name
Ordinary – lacking in fame
Always helpful
Never one to complain
(Joan – acrostic)
Change and adaptation
The first time I came to [name of care home] I
wondered how I was going to fit in after being
a housewife in a small bungalow. After being
here for 3 ½ years I’m still adjusting… it’s
very difficult. Some of the staff and clientele
are most helpful and I found myself quick to
make friends. I knew it was the end of my
independence. But I’ve learned to mix with
people, to fit in.
Giving and receiving care
Not just a professional activity:
My friend Amy has helped me the most
and another friend David who was always
a willing helper. Amy’s always there at the
right time to move my chair from one room
to another. If I’m worried she’s always
there for me to talk to.
Giving and receiving care
The best kind of care is like sunshine
You are being caressed
A warm feeling on your skin through the thin
blouse you’re wearing.
The best kind of care is like sunshine’ accessing older people’s views through
creative writing
Christine Brown-Wilson
Josie Tetley
Joan Healey
River Walton