Against environmental anaesthesia: investigating resident engagement with a magnetic participative art installation on a secure care unit

Abstract

Secure long-term care units come with a unique set of challenges, particularly around exit-seeking behaviour. Arts-based environmental interventions on secure units successfully reduce problematic behaviours, while simultaneously ensuring resident safety and improving resident quality of life. The present arts-based project enhanced a distraction mural intervention to incorporate magnets as a participative arts feature. The project was evaluated through a roundtable discussion with unit staff. Findings showed that in addition to reducing exit-seeking behaviour, the magnets provided an aesthetically engaging set of objects for residents to gather up and hold, to pause and explore, and to create order. Challenges with direct care staff are identified and future ideas for arts-based projects on secure units are considered.

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