Remote cultures: using arts activities to support staff working with people with dementia in care homes

A chapter within the volume 'Creative Approaches to Wellbeing' which outlines the way in which the Culture Box study addressed this issue using remote methods during the pandemic.The aim of Culture Box was threefold:(1) to alleviate social isolation and loneliness;(2) to provide stimulating activities that enhance social interactions within the care home; and (3) to offer accessible public health information with a focus on reaching those with dementia from diverse communities. Over the course of a year (December 2020–December 2021), a ‘culture box’was delivered to the care homes each month, containing creative and participatory activities and resources. Activities were a mixture of online (music, videos, etc.) and physical resources (colouring, painting, crafting, etc.). The project used a remote working model where most team meetings, interviews and collaborative activities were undertaken over virtual platforms alongside some in-person coordination of packaging and mailing boxes.