In the Moment is an Arts Programme on the Oak Ward of the South East Palliative Care Centre on the campus of University Hospital Waterford. The programme supports patient wellbeing and promotes quality of life through creative activity.
“A relaxing, creative space for patients and their families”
Context
The palliative care philosophy is to support the person to live as well as they can for as long as they can. In the Moment embodies this philosophy by offering the person the opportunity to experience and create art, to tell their story and, in so doing, to discover something new and positive about themselves, even at a late stage in their lives.
Aims
Through skill, sensitivity, knowledge and experience, the Réalta artists delivering In the Moment aim to:
– offer patients the opportunity to make art, to be creative, to tell their story and to develop new skills
– ease the burden of life-limiting illness
– support patients and their loved ones to create new, important, positive memories
– enhance patient quality of life, through the benefits of being creative: joy, achievement, wonder, surprise, motivation, sense of purpose.
– ‘soften’ the clinical environment and contribute to the holistic care of the person.
– promote connection between the patient and staff, and to support the staff to see each person beyond their illness.
Methodology
Two professional artists – poet/writer Lani O’Hanlon and visual artist Caroline Schofield – deliver weekly visual art and poetry/writing sessions on a one-to-one basis with patients who wish to take part. Family members who are present are welcome to take part in these sessions also. The artworks created by the patients and/or their family members are kept by them. Where appropriate, and with the consent of the patient and/or their family, the artist may keep a copy of the artwork as a record of the session.
The artists are supported by Réalta management and staff, in partnership with the management and staff of the Oak Ward. The artists lead workshops for staff on the Oak Ward, and as part of Staff Training Days, to support staff to be creative and to offer them the opportunity to experience what is offered to their patients.
Evaluation
In the Moment is evaluated on a quarterly basis, and involves artist reflective journals, patient, family and staff feedback, and review meetings with the Oak Ward and Réalta management teams. Feedback is consistently and universally positive, with patients, family members and staff expressing how beneficial the experiences are.
Programme Funding
In the Moment is kindly funded by Waterford Hospice Movement CLG