Cardiff & Vale Health Charity and the Arts for Health and Wellbeing Programme are delighted to support the ‘Talking Point’ music and art project through the Staff Lottery fund. The creative sessions are being delivered to the patients of the Sam Davies Ward, the rehabilitation ward at Barry Hospital, and are providing a positive focus for the patients, carers and staff.
Most of the patients on the Sam Davies Ward are elderly. Many of them have dementia, and their extended stays in the ward can often lead to feelings of isolation. The aims of the project are to remind participants of their strength, resilience, sense of humour and creativity. Through participating in the creative activities, the patients are interacting with others, providing them with an opportunity to have fun and support each other, whilst improving their overall mental and physical wellbeing.
Music and arts facilitators from Breathe Creative have been delivering the weekly sessions to the patients, and facilitating conversations about favourite memories, songs and places. The power of familiar melodies often triggers captivating stories from the group. These memories then allow the participants to reflect on their life experiences and express their emotions in a compassionate and empathetic environment.
Feedback from participants highlights the impact of the project on the patients’ lives:
“This brings back the good old days.”
“This is my favourite day.”
“We are stronger than we think we are.”
“I didn’t know I remembered all the lyrics.”
The group have also been given an opportunity to create their own greetings cards to send to their loved ones (sometimes residing in different countries) on special occasions and to celebrate life events. A group artwork has also been started, depicting a tree of life. Participants have been asked to write down inspirational words that help them through the day, that are then included on the tree. It’s a work in progress, and more quotes are added each session.
Katja Stiller, the Art Facilitator, said: “”I so enjoy working on the Sam Davies ward, I am still amazed how transformative music, art and coming together is. To see the changes in the patients during the sessions is truly humbling. “
The Staff Lottery funding has also been secured to create a mural as part of the project. Inspired by the conversations between participants and the facilitators, illustrator Emma Jones will create a mural for the hospital garden to celebrate the patients’ memories and lives. It will create a lasting legacy of the bright and joyful sessions Breathe Creative have brought to the Sam Davies Ward.
Cardiff & Vale Health Charity and the Arts for Health and Wellbeing Team are delighted to support the project, as it has a direct positive impact on the patients currently residing at the ward. The project is a testament to the benefits art and music can have on mental and physical wellbeing.
Sesiynau Cerddoriaeth a Chelf gan Breathe Creative
Mae’n bleser gan Elusen Iechyd Caerdydd a’r Fro a’r Rhaglen Celfyddydau ar gyfer Iechyd a Lles gefnogi prosiect cerddoriaeth a chelf ‘Talking Point’ drwy gronfa Loteri’r Staff. Mae’r sesiynau creadigol yn cael eu cyflwyno i gleifion Ward Sam Davies, y ward adsefydlu yn Ysbyty’r Barri, ac maent yn darparu ffocws cadarnhaol i’r cleifion, gofalwyr a staff.
Mae’r rhan fwyaf o’r cleifion ar Ward Sam Davies yn oedrannus. Mae dementia ar lawer ohonynt, a gall eu harhosiad estynedig yn y ward arwain at deimladau o unigedd yn aml. Nodau’r prosiect yw atgoffa cyfranogwyr o’u cryfder, gwydnwch, synnwyr digrifwch a chreadigedd. Trwy gymryd rhan yn y gweithgareddau creadigol, mae’r cleifion yn rhyngweithio ag eraill, gan roi cyfle iddynt gael hwyl a chefnogi ei gilydd, tra’n gwella eu lles meddyliol a chorfforol cyffredinol.
Mae hwyluswyr cerddoriaeth a’r celfyddydau o Breathe Creative wedi bod yn cyflwyno’r sesiynau wythnosol i’r cleifion, ac yn hwyluso sgyrsiau am hoff atgofion, caneuon a lleoedd. Mae pŵer alawon cyfarwydd yn aml yn sbarduno straeon cyfareddol gan y grŵp. Mae’r atgofion hyn wedyn yn galluogi’r cyfranogwyr i fyfyrio ar eu profiadau bywyd a mynegi eu hemosiynau mewn amgylchedd tosturiol ac empathig.
Mae adborth gan gyfranogwyr yn amlygu effaith y prosiect ar fywydau cleifion:
“Mae hyn yn gadael i ni hel atgofion am yr hen ddyddiau da.”
“Dyma fy hoff ddiwrnod.”
“Rydyn ni’n gryfach nag rydyn ni’n meddwl ydyn ni.”
“Doeddwn i ddim yn gwybod fy mod yn cofio’r holl eiriau.”
Mae’r criw hefyd wedi cael cyfle i greu eu cardiau cyfarch eu hunain i’w hanfon at eu hanwyliaid (sydd weithiau’n byw mewn gwahanol wledydd) ar achlysuron arbennig ac i ddathlu digwyddiadau bywyd. Mae gwaith celf grŵp hefyd wedi’i ddechrau, yn darlunio coeden bywyd. Gofynnwyd i gyfranogwyr ysgrifennu geiriau ysbrydoledig sy’n eu helpu trwy’r dydd, sydd wedyn yn cael eu cynnwys ar y goeden. Mae’n waith sy’n mynd rhagddo, ac ychwanegir mwy o ddyfyniadau bob sesiwn.
Dywedodd Katja Stiller, yr Hwylusydd Celf: “Rwyf wrth fy modd yn gweithio ar ward Sam Davies, rwy’n dal i ryfeddu pa mor drawsnewidiol yw cerddoriaeth, celf a dod at ein gilydd. Mae gweld y newidiadau yn y cleifion yn ystod y sesiynau yn wirioneddol ostyngedig. “
Mae arian Loteri Staff hefyd wedi ei sicrhau i greu murlun fel rhan o’r prosiect. Wedi’i hysbrydoli gan y sgyrsiau rhwng y cyfranogwyr a’r hwyluswyr, bydd y darlunydd Emma Jones yn creu murlun ar gyfer gardd yr ysbyty i ddathlu atgofion a bywydau’r cleifion. Bydd yn creu gwaddol parhaol o’r sesiynau disglair a llawen y mae Breathe Creative wedi’u cyflwyno i Ward Sam Davies.
Mae Elusen Iechyd Caerdydd a’r Fro a Thîm y Celfyddydau ar gyfer Iechyd a Lles yn falch iawn o gefnogi’r prosiect, gan ei fod yn cael effaith gadarnhaol uniongyrchol ar y cleifion sy’n byw yn y ward ar hyn o bryd. Mae’r prosiect yn dyst i’r manteision y gall celf a cherddoriaeth eu cael ar les meddyliol a chorfforol.