This workshop consisted of an arts activity which took place at Corton House Care Home Norwich on the 10th October 2024. The activity was undertaken by Eyebrow Arts artists Dot and Sorrell.

Dot gently sang and played on ukelele to everyone as each resident arrived (accompanied by a Care home staff member or volunteer). Cards with pictures of hands were set out informally at each place at the table.  Dot played welcome tune, repeated it, like a chorus, making an upbeat atmosphere. Not over-loud and growing familiarity with repetition.  Nearly every resident who came in was looking at her and several people talking to someone.  A carer said the activity is a lot for them and ‘we need to let them settle’.  Sorrel was holding hands with a resident in a wheelchair who had been sitting by himself looking at the table. Packs of cards with different pictures of hands were set out at each place on the table.  Most residents picked them up and rearranged them to some extent. 

While drinking tea a carer tells Dot that one of the residents has a ukulele in his room and Dot hands over the instrument to him. He holds it, plucks, and strums for a minute or 2. All Carers busy themselves actively sitting alongside, chatting to residents, or fetching tea or food or other table objects. Sustained 1-1 attention between Carers and residents occurred, most people engaged and chatting.  Voices were not ‘noisy’, but a low continuous hum across the room.

A resident was now looking at the table cards with a carer who arranges with her. Maria briefly introduces Dot and Sorrel to the room.  Sorrel introduces the session that will be on the topic of hands. A resident picks up and puts her hands together, another resident is helped to rub their hands together. Dot plays a table gong softly and takes it to share it with a resident and they both play on it slowly, encouraged further by a carer. A resident is now smiling and laughing with another carer. A resident was chatting animatedly with a carer and Dot and also has a go on the gong. Concentrating both on playing and taking turns with the gong together with Dot and carer.

Dot moves on to wiggling fingers then drawing imaginary pencil around finger shapes, both talk and touching own hands and others’ hands, ‘imagine pencil enjoy feeling of moving round fingers’.

Dot shows picture of Michelangelo's painting The Creation of Adam on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. A resident laughed and rearranging their own hands, looking, and smiling, copying moves with encouragement from a carer. A resident was laughing with a carer and coping movements while chatting across the table with Sorrel. Sorrel acts passing on the creative energy between peoples’ fingers. 

Dot and Sorrel hold the bubble ball together with fingertips.  They walk between the tables keeping the bubble between them. Resident keeps trying to keep it up then lifts it up by himself with 1 finger on each hand. Then a carer joins him and they work it together. A resident does a little clap and then also picks up the bubble with both hands on fingertips .  A resident begins to gently bounce and touch the ball tentatively with a carer then by herself. A resident returns to arranging cards.

Now Dot offers thin short sticks to also hold up with finger ends. A carer offers a stick to a resident and explains ‘its relaxing to hold’. A resident continues to play with the ball lifting it by himself feeling the ball shape with the end of his fingers and bouncing it a little.

Sorrel takes and plays the gong with a resident who occasionally interrupts whistling for short periods.  He relaxes his face more and breathes more slowly. A carer pauses and holds resident’s hand and makes finger shapes with her.  She then returns to arranging the paper and cards on the table.  People are doing their own finger signs.  A resident places his flat fingers palm down on Sorrel’s, with emphasis. A carer and resident hug and look at each other, chatting quietly. A  resident is now smiling and her gaze following Dot moving round the room.

Dot starts playing and singing to thank each participant by name in turn. Some start to link hands then everyone links hands and jiggle hands.  People laugh softly as different names come up and some join in singing.  Several people start lifting hands and swaying them.  A resident is clapping animatedly. Another resident is also smiling broadly and clapping enthusiastically. People are guided out with staff and volunteers.