Hearth – Art for Older People at Home

Description

How it Works:

1.The professional artist / facilitator visits each participant once a week
The artist / facilitator are experienced in working with older people and with those with disabilities. Often they have trained through mentoring projects and have specialist skill-sets. artist/facilitators suitability and selection is carried out with great care.

2. High quality art materials and other equipment required are supplied to each participant.

3. There is ongoing Management and Administration of project.
The Hearth Project originated in Co Mayo in 2009 and it has been managed and Coordinated by Breda Mayock since then. There are regular
meetings with the artists/facilitators and with the Public Health teams in the areas
where Hearth is operating.

4. Art Exhibitions/Events are organised to bring participants together and to show-case the art work.

The Aim of Hearth

A rapidly ageing population is one of the major social challenges facing Ireland in the coming decades. And this is coupled with the increasing number of people living alone.

Research from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) found that average loneliness in the adults aged 60 years and over during the first lockdown (March to November 2020) of the COVID-19 pandemic was more than double the average score in 2018/2019 and was associated with lower quality of life during this time. Depressive symptoms were now reported by almost 25% of this same group, compared with less than 10% in 2018.
(TILDA 2011-2021)

The arts are a naturally effective tool in combating loneliness. Experience of the arts teaches us to see our world in a different way. This is the reason why Hearth has been developed.

Hearth opens a new world for participants by bringing the richness of the visual arts into their homes and providing them with the opportunity to experiment with and develop their own creative lives under the guidance of a professional artist.

The feedback from the participants in the project and the evidence of the work they are producing are the most telling proof of the effectiveness of the initiative and its capacity to inject new meaning, stimulus and excitement into the lives of older people.

Aim of Initiative

Hearth brings the opportunity for older people to engage in visual arts into their homes, and allows the older person to explore their own creative lives under the guidance of a professional artist, in a safe, comforting and encouraging manner.

The feedback from the participants in the project and the evidence of the work they are producing are the most telling proof of the effectiveness of the initiative and its capacity to inject new meaning, stimulus and excitement into the lives of older people.

Its not just the art work, its also the anticipation of the weekly visit from the artist, the chat and fun involved, and the sense of accomplishment for the older person.

Who is it aimed at

Older isolated people

3 Steps critical to success

1. Hearth envisions a world where everyone can explore their creativity, easing isolation and nurturing connection. The mission is to provide a safe space for people to discover their artistic potential through guidance and collaboration with experienced artists.

   We strive for a world illuminated by connection and creativity—like a map where each light represents a person discovering the artist within.

   Key principles include:
   Flexibility: Adapt to individual needs.
   Observation & Evaluation: Continuously assess and adjust.
   Be Present: Engage fully with participants.
   Collaboration & Positivity: Foster support and shared learning.
   Creative Reverie: Use best materials and encourage creativity.

   The Hearth brand represents trust and professionalism while supporting the intimate, individual process of creativity.

2. Hearth ensures proper governance, safeguarding, and resources for artists. It operates as a non-profit and ensures financial transparency and operational efficiency.

   Constitution
   Hearth is a not-for-profit artist collective that operates according to an agreed constitution.

   Artists must undergo HSELand training, and have appropriate insurance in place, and sign the safeguarding policy before joining Hearth and starting any placements. A safeguarding process is in place to protect both artists and participants from abuse or harm.

   Reflecting on the Experience & Sharing the Story:
   Artists are encouraged to document their experience, create alongside participants, and attend peer sessions for shared learning. Hearth seeks funding for exhibitions to showcase the work created.

3. Hearth secures funding through public and philanthropic sources. Each cycle is based on agreed-upon details, including the number of participants and session timeframe. Partners are contacted once funding is confirmed.

   Artists are encouraged to document their experience, create alongside participants, and attend peer sessions for shared learning. Hearth seeks funding for exhibitions to showcase the work created.

   Hearth collaborates with referral partners who align with its mission, ensuring participants are properly matched and supported throughout their engagement with the program. All referral partner relationships start with in person meetings so they can get to know the artists and vice versa.

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. Securing more sustained funding is the biggest challenge. Hearth could reach a lot more homes with more funding.
2. Growing old can be a challenging and unhappy experience for many. Negative emotions are often compounded by feelings of boredom and loneliness. All these problems tend to be more serious for people who live in more remote and isolated areas. The mind has a great capacity to learn, discover and create. It can appreciate the beautiful and artful, whether in the literary or visual arts.
   The challenge for Hearth is to reach more people who can benefit from a visit from an artist.
3. One of the aims of Hearth is to get to a point where the programme can be rolled out in other counties. Through a Care & Creativity project in 2024/25 Mayo Arts Service has worked with Roscommon Arts Service to establish home visits by artists in Co Roscommon. This work is ongoing but will be in need of further funding in 2026.

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. 18 older people are being visited in their homes by an artist each week in Mayo.
   Heart has found that feelings of loneliness and depression have been lifted for participants through engagement with artwork – participants, their family members and the artist/facilitators have reported this to be true. The group exhibitions and get togethers also encourage communication and friendship.
2. An evaluator has been engaged to work on a survey that each participant has filled out at the beginning of the Hearth programme in 2024 and will again in September 2025. This will provide valuable information for planning in the future,
3. Hearth received the Arts & Health Documentation Bursary and a film has been made about the project in Mayo. This documentary was launched in May 2025 at The National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park. The event brought the artists, the participants, funders and the Hearth team and supporters together. Minister Dara Calleary launched the film and there was a display of the artwork from the project. It was very uplifting for the older people who got to meet each other and enjoy showing their artwork.