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

Dot gently sang and played a ukulele to everyone as each resident arrived (accompanied by a Care home staff member or volunteer).  Dot played a welcome tune, repeated it, like a chorus, making an upbeat atmosphere. Not over-loud and growing in familiarity with repetition. Nearly every resident who came in was looking at her. A carer said the activity is a lot for them – saying ‘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 two. All Carers busy themselves actively sitting alongside residents, chatting to them, or fetching tea or food. Sustained 1-1 attention between Carers and residents occurred, most people engaged and chatted. 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 them 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 one 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 it slowly, encouraged further by a carer. A resident is now smiling and laughing with another carer. A resident chatted animatedly with a carer and Dot and has a go on the gong.

Dot moves on to wiggling fingers then drawing an imaginary pencil around finger shapes, both talk and touch their own hands and others.

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

Dot and Sorrel hold the bubble ball together with their fingertips.They walk between the tables keeping the bubble between them. A resident keeps trying to keep it up and then lifts it up by himself with one finger on each hand. Then a carer joins him, and they work at it together. A resident does a little clap and then also picks up the bubble ball with both hands. 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 and breathes more slowly. A carer pauses and holds a 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. People laugh softly as different names come up and some join in singing. Several people start lifting hands and swaying with them. A resident is clapping animatedly. Another resident is also smiling broadly and is clapping enthusiastically. People are guided out with staff and volunteers.

Below are recorded interviews with Maria Widdrington (Activities Co-ordinator) from Corton House Care Home and Dot Howard and Sorrell Muggridge, the artists who facilitated the session.