Stronger together: learning from an interdisciplinary dementia, arts and well-being network (DA&WN)

ABSTRACT BackgroundThis paper reports on the learning from a 12-month interdisciplinary project (Dementia, Arts and Wellbeing Network– DA&WN) and its activities. These featured a series of four workshops on dance, visual art, theatre and music. The network was comprised of clinicians, academics, creative practitioners and people with lived experience of dementia and their carers. MethodsThe workshops were designed to draw out tacit knowledge about well-being in dementia through an action-based learn- ing and research approach. This included guided activities combined with reflective group discussions, visual documentation and baseline and follow-up questionnaires. ResultsOutcomes included new collaborations between group members, changes in creative practice for artists, and active and sustained involvement of people living with dementia and their carers in similar opportunities and participatory research. ConclusionThis participatory and inclusive workshop model should be considered to develop and enhance interdisciplinary activities in dementia care