Ageing Well with Creative Arts and Pets: The HenPower Story

Hodgson, Philip, Cook, Glenda, Johnson, Amy and Abbott-Brailey, Hilary (2023) Ageing Well with Creative Arts and Pets: The HenPower Story. Activities, Adaptation & Aging, 47 (2). pp. 214-231. ISSN 0192-4788

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Abstract

HenPower is a programme that enables older people who live with dementia in care homes to take part in hen-keeping and hen-related creative activities. It was introduced into UK care homes to address evidence suggesting older adults who live with dementia in care homes can experience diminished personal wellbeing. This study aimed to 1) assess the impact of HenPower on people who have dementia who are living in a care home and 2) explore care home staff views and experiences of the HenPower programme. A nested qualitative design was adopted, utilizing observation of 29 older people who live in a care home and 25 staff individual and small-group interviews. Five themes emerged: ongoing meaningful engagement with hens, self-expression through creative activities, improved mood and participation, improved social interaction, and enhanced living environment. HenPower offers potential wellbeing benefits to older people living in care homes, many of which echo with existing evidence on non-pharmacological approaches.

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