Creative ageing is providing a lifeline for older people during the pandemic

This week the Foundation has published a new report which highlights the response of the creative ageing sector to the COVID-19 lockdown from March 2020.

Key workers: creative ageing in lockdown and after finds an immensely impressive response – with the vast majority continuing to offer creative activities to older participants – both in care homes and at home, with most adapting to remote ways of working almost overnight.

Many went beyond their creative services, calling participants to see how they were, raising funds to provide participants with tablets, and delivering food and essentials to those shielding.

However, with no return to normal in sight, the reports finds that the vast majority are worried about their financial viability, as well as about the health and wellbeing of course of participants, but also their artists.

This report is based on a small survey and 16 case studies of creative ageing organisations across the UK, as well as learning from a decade of funding in this field.