Workshops for the elderly

Thanks to a grant from Barts and The London Charity, elderly patients at Mile End Hospital are learning new skills - such as photography and drama - that could help with their rehabilitation.

EPiC Arts are now running workshops as part of the hospital's Improving the Patient Experience programme. 

They are designed to encourage participation and help patients to engage with each other, staff and the artists. The workshops aim to provide a safe and stimulating environment where, through the arts, people’s talents and ideas can be shared and celebrated.

Over a period of 33 weeks (3 x 11 week cycles) elderly patients can learn new art skills such as crafts, photography, painting, drama, storytelling and singing.  Each session will give elderly patients the opportunity to develop their creativity and experience various artistic techniques. 

All patients are encouraged to take part including those with limited physical mobility, Dementia, Alzheimer's, strokes, wounds, fractures and those for whom the hospital is their nursing home.     

A spokeperson for Barts and The London Charity said: "Staff at the hospital, who deal with the patients on a daily basis, can see that the workshops give patients new confidence. They can also help with rehabilitation by sharpening up their motor and verbal skills. We are delighted that this project is such a success and would love to support similar initiatives in other hospitals, if funding can be found."

The workshops are benefitting elderly patients by:

• Strengthening movement and coordination 
• Helping them to learn new creative skills
• Encouraging creativity and self-confidence
• Promoting friendship and community building
• Building self-esteem

• If you would like to help support this project, please contact the fundraising team on 020 7618 1720

Patients at Mile End Hospital are learning creative skills to aid their rehabilitation