Together yet apart: Rethinking creativity and relational dementia care during the Covid-19 pandemic

Culture Box was a creative project that responded to deprivation and distress experienced by those with
dementia in care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote and digital creative activities were designed
and delivered as ‘Culture Boxes’ to care homes, aiming to alleviate social isolation and loneliness for people
with dementia. Eighty-eight people with dementia and 33 care staff from 33 care homes across England
were recruited to the study, with 68 people with dementia and 28 staff completing the study 12 months
later. Participatory Action Research combining mixed methods was used to evaluate the project. Baseline
and follow-up surveys and dialogic interviews at 3 time points during the study collected quantitative and
qualitative data and were analysed descriptively and via inductive thematic analysis respectively. Qualitative
findings indicated that the project activities facilitated relational care through creative experiences characterised by sharing, building relationships, and developing a sense of community. Social health was promoted
via participation in social activities and fostering independence. Future studies should further explore the
utility of creative practices to develop relational care, to support care staff, and to maximise wellbeing benefits for those living with dementia