WEDNESDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER, 2020

For immediate release. Photographs attached:

Art shows the way for residents

New dementia-friendly art and design projects at three Perthshire sheltered housing units have been created to help residents find their way around the buildings while adding character and interest to the communal areas.

Working in partnership, Tayside Healthcare Arts Trust (THAT) and Perth & Kinross Council commissioned creative art and design solutions for Carpenter Court and Strathmore Street sheltered housing units in Perth and at James Court in Pitlochry.

The artwork was developed using dementia-friendly principles. The enhanced designs help residents to navigate more easily around the buildings.

THAT commissioned designer Louise Kirby to hold consultation workshops with staff and residents. They looked at themes and colours that residents respond well too. Louise devised different plans, each appropriate to the individual buildings. The concept was to use imagery based around nature and the changing seasons, and reflect the established colour coding system for each floor in the Carpenter Court and Strathmore Street units. The designs at James Court reflect the residents and staffs love of the local animals and landscape and provide positive images that brighten up the corridor.

Louise said, “I loved the challenge of using my design skills to improve how residents find their way around the sheltered housing units. The buildings are very different in size and layout so they required different solutions, but the principle is the same. The design elements link and flow with the established colour coding to provide positive visual markers for people. This has been a great opportunity to see how my designs can help people living in these units.”

Perth & Kinross Council’s Housing and Communities Convener, Councillor Bob Brawn, said, “These are lovely images and we’ve received a lot of positive comments about them from both residents and visitors. They really enjoy the colour they’ve brought to the units. They are a great addition and our residents and staff are really pleased with the outcome.”

THAT promotes the therapeutic value of the arts-based programmes to enhance environments, quality of life, and promote social inclusion by empowering individuals to make an important contribution to their health and wellbeing.

For more information about the project, please contact THAT development office Karine Neill on 01382 835509.

Contact:

Lyndsey Daun

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 424138