Presentation at International NordFo Conference Make It Now, on September 29th 2016 in University of Turku, Department of Teacher Education in Rauma.

1. HANDMADE WELLBEING IN A
CARE CENTRE FOR OLDER
PEOPLE
Mari Salovaara, Doctoral
Student
Craft Teacher Education
University of Helsinki

2. CRITICAL
MOMENT
” I say, we are
artists. We are still
able to do
something!”

3. THE STUDY
How do guided craft
activities promote the sense
of control of the older
people in a care centre?

4. THE BIG
PICTURE
International Erasmus+ -
project Handmade Wellbeing
Developing an educational
model
to coach arts & crafts
professionals to design and
carry out craft activities for
older people in care centres
3 perspectives, 3 substudies
The older participants
The student teachers
The educators

5. THEORETICAL
BACKGROUND
Wellbeing in later life
Crafts & wellbeing

6. WELLBEING IN LATER LIFE
Engagement in life is very important (Rowe & Kahn, 1997)
 Social relations
 Meaningful activities
Experiencing sense of control and meaningful social engagement
result in positive health outcomes in older adults (Cohen et al., 2006;
Rodin, 1986)
Feeling enabled, in control & connected with others

7. CRAFTS & WELLBEING
Inward
 Pleasure in multisensory,
creative making
 Cognitive challenge &
accomplishment
 Distraction from negative
thoughts
 Relaxation and / or flow
experiences
Outward
 Attending to and influencing
the physical environment
 Promoting social interaction
 Validation from others
Feeling enabled, in control & connected with others
(e.g. Liddle, Parkinson, & Sibbritt, 2013; Maidment & Macfarlane, 2011; Pöllänen,
2012; Reynolds, 2010)

8. THE DESIGN
Setting & participants
The data
Role of the researcher
Analysis

9. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS
Craft workshops in a care centre, 2 departments
1. Day activity centre for older people with memory disorders
living at home
 6 participants
 Age 85-89 (3), 90-94 (3)
 6 workshops in 3 weeks
2. Residential psychogeriatric department, mental disorders
 4 participants
 Age 70-74 (2), 80-84 (2)
 9 workshops in 3 weeks
All female

10. THE DATA
Video recorded workshops: 856
minutes
 Standing camera to film the whole
situation
 Moving camera to focus on details
Day activity centre
 4 recorded workshops
 Standing camera 394 minutes
 Moving camera 98 minutes
Residential psychogeriatric
department
 6 recorded workshops
 Standing camera 233 minutes

11. ANALYSIS (IN PROGRESS)
Now
Content log
 Rough description of events
 2 minute sections
 Standing camera videos
Making notes
Next
Watching the videos over and
over
Finding interesting segments
 Theory driven: mastering the
making, social interaction,
engagement, accomplishment,
etc.
 Data driven: something else
that catches my eye

12. SOME NOTIONS
Sense of control in the
making
Control of interaction

13. SENSE OF CONTROL IN THE
MAKING
Making was rewarding for
everyone!
Modes of participation could be
adapted
Intensity of engagement could be
adapted

14. SENSE OF CONTROL IN
INTERACTION
Different kinds of needs and
ways of interaction were
allowed
Making crafts facilitates
different ways of participating
a group
The participants expressed
that gathering together was
important

15. WHAT’S NEXT?
More data; 2nd cycle
Fall 2016
2 departments
Preparation of the workshops is
modified
Role of the researcher??
No moving camera
Outsider or participator?
Article out spring 2017

16. REFERENCES
Cohen, G. D., Perlstein, S., Chapline, J., Kelly, J., Firth, K. M., & Simmens, S. (2006). The impact of
professionally conducted cultural programs on the physical health, mental health, and social functioning of
older adults. The Gerontologist, 46(6), 726–734.
Gold, R. L. (1958). Roles in Sociological Field Observations. Social Forces, 36(3), 217–223.
Heath, C., Hindmarsh, J., & Luff, P. (2010). Video in Qualitative Research. Using Video Psychological and Social
Applications, 184.
Liddle, J. L. M., Parkinson, L., & Sibbritt, D. W. (2013). Purpose and pleasure in late life: Conceptualising older
women’s participation in art and craft activities. Journal of Aging Studies, 27(4), 330–338.
Maidment, J., & Macfarlane, S. (2011). Crafting Communities: Promoting Inclusion, Empowerment, and
Learning between Older Women. Australian Social Work, 64(March 2015), 283–298.
Pöllänen, S. (2012). The meaning of craft: Craft makers’ descriptions of craft as an occupation. Scandinavian
Journal of Occupational Therapy, 8128(January 2011), 1–11.
Reynolds, F. (2010). “Colour and communion”: Exploring the influences of visual art-making as a leisure
activity on older women’s subjective well-being. Journal of Aging Studies, 24(2), 135–143.
Rodin, J. (1986). Aging and Health: Effects of the Sense of Control. Science, 233(4770), 1271–1276.
Rowe, J. W., & Kahn, R. L. (1997). Successful Aging. The Gerontologist, 37(4), 433–440.