We are continually analyzing, writing up and presenting the research findings in numerous forums. Information about the Photographic Exhibition in 2017, videos and several recent outputs are listed below (with links to the publications, if available), but please also visit QUT’s e-prints site for the most up to date outputs (https://eprints.qut.edu.au/view/person/Miller,_Evonne.html).
EXHIBITION
“Living in Aged Care: A photographic exhibition of laughter, loss and leisure”
In this exhibition, at the State Library of Queensland from 23 January to 28 February 2017, twenty older Australians share their experiences of life in one retirement and residential aged care community (BallyCara in Brisbane) through photographs, paintings and poetry.
CREATIVE ART ACTIVITIES
Working collaboratively with art therapist (Ruth Falconer) and PhD students (Ilona Pappne Demecs and Tricia King, who photographed the process), we explored the impact and benefits of creative, artistic expression. The photographs below are from one group activity – ‘Arts Day’ in August 2015, where residents, staff and researchers collaboratively created a large art-work during ‘Seniors Week’ (a Queensland state government initiative that celebrates the contribution seniors make to their communities).
We also created poems about life in aged care, with residents and from residents interview transcripts.
MEDIA COVERAGE
On the exhibition and life in aged care – link to radio interview, Feb 2017: http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/life-in-a-retirement-home-through-the-eyes-of-the-elderly/8237706
Secret to aged care happiness: http://www.australianageingagenda.com.au/2014/08/27/secret-happiness-aged-care/
A positive attitude is key: http://www.sageagedcare.edu.au/blog/keeping-a-positive-attitude-the-key-to-happiness-in-old-age/
The aged care taboo – link to radio interview: http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/lifematters/aged-care/4794534
The design challenge of population ageing: http://designonline.org.au/a-design-challenge-how-will-design-respond-to-population-ageing/
Videos
Graham’s Happiness: a SONA story is a short film that shows Ballycara’s SONA (Gaelic for happiness) organizational culture philosophy in action. SONA is an approach that strives to find what makes people happy in their lives – and act on it. It is grounded in positive psychology, a positive strengths-based perspective that fosters the constructs, processes and moments that make life meaningful and worth living. SONA’s philosophy of growing and nurturing resident (and staff) happiness has developed a cultural climate that fosters optimism, well-being and highly personalised, engaging care – fostering a positive workplace and stronger relationships between staff and residents.
This video (filmed and edited by Dr Lorraine Bell) shows one SONA initiative, focussed on Graham’s Happiness. Graham enjoyed horseracing and ‘having a bet’, so together staff from BallyCara organise to take Graham to the trots.
Academic publications
Using participatory visual methods in aged care
“I understand. I am a participant”: Navigating the ‘fuzzy’ boundaries of visual methods in qualitative longitudinal research
1 citations on Scopus
Beyond Bingo: a phenomenographic exploration of leisure in aged care
- 3 citations on Scopus
“You could scream the place down”: Five poems on the experience of aged care
7 citations on Web of Science- 7 citations on Scopus
Key facilitators and barriers to quality of life in residential aged care : the role of design
Visual narratives and counter-narratives in aged care