CreateMore: Examining application of arts and creativity in everyday care activities as a health promotion and mental health recovery strategy for staff in long-term care

Music is an incredibly powerful artform, with the potential to improve all domains of well-being. Create More Concerts: Feasibility Pilot is a research project that will pilot the provision of concerts at two long-term care (LTC) homes through an 8-week concert series in partnership with Concerts in Care Ontario (CiCO).

The researchers will pilot the provision of concerts at two LTC homes, to assess the feasibility and acceptability of implementing a concert series in LTC and evaluate the potential benefits of the concerts for residents, team members, and family/friend care partners. The provision of high-quality, in-person recreation experiences for residents of LTC is more crucial than ever, as during the pandemic these opportunities have often been restricted. The potential of secondary benefits for team members is also important to capture within the current context of staffing issues and mental health concerns for staff within the LTC sector.

This pilot project is the first phase of a larger project. The results from this pilot study will inform an intervention the research team is developing for implementation across Schlegel Villages.