Seed Grant Projects 2024 - Arts in Residential Care

In conjunction with Caru (a continuous learning programme for care and compassion at end of life in nursing homes), Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF) launched a fourth round of our Seed Grant programme in May 2024. In contrast to previous years, this round focussed on creative exploration and responses to grief and loss in a residential care setting.

Following a call-out for submissions, we received circa 40 applications for a place on this programme designed to encourage creative exploration through micro-financing and mentorship. Awardees included activity co-ordinators, artists, educators, and academics. Selection was made to align with Caru’s ambition as a quality improvement programme, namely to support and improve the delivery of compassionate, person-centred, palliative, end-of-life, and bereavement care to residents and family members in nursing homes.

Using a wide variety of creative practice, each project encouraged and facilitated safe conversations about end-of-life planning, dying, death, grief, and loss. This is reflected in the use of song, drama, film, writing, poetry, movement, storytelling, memorabilia, mosaics, collage, and painting.

These projects developed from June 2024 until November 2024, and all were filmed. Enjoy exploring them below.

Three elderly people, one man and two women, sitting at a table painting tiles.

Roots of Remembering – Brindley Manor Nursing Home (Donegal)

Led by artist-facilitator Rebecca Strain, residents and staff created a ceramic memory tree for their garden while exploring experiences of dying, death, grief, and loss.

A photo of a group of elderly people in a nursing home sitting in chairs and waving their hands in the air.

Moving Forward with Grief – Esker Lodge Nursing Home (Cavan)

Multi-disciplinary community artist Helen Keenan hosted drawing and movement classes with residents. Individual sessions were facilitated for residents living with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

A photo of an elderly woman and her granddaughter flipping through a book.

Healing & Remembrance Space – Ennis Road Care Facility (Clare)

Dr Lisa Hester collaborated with residents to re-purpose an underused prayer room into a therapeutic multi-purpose area for the whole nursing home community to use.

A photo of a drama instructor leading a group of elderly people through a playacting activity.

Unveiling Shadows – Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services (Dublin)

Performance artist Gabrielle Breathnach facilitated drama-based movement classes for residents to prompt conversations about memories, dreams, and aspirations.

Residents at Sunhill Nursing Home sitting in comfortable chairs and smiling.

In My Thoughts – Sunhill Nursing Home (Louth)

Director of Nursing Elaine Moloney commissioned painter Rozzi Kennedy and writer Sarah Hope Guppy to work creatively with residents and staff in exploring the impact of the myriad of griefs and losses associated with nursing homes.

A photo of a woman conducting members of a choir.

Milford Voices Choir – Milford Nursing Home (Limerick)

Activity Coordinator Michelle Clifford formed a resident’s choir to share experiences of dying, death, grief and loss through song choices aimed at fostering wellbeing.

About Caru

Caru is a continuous learning programme developed by Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF), in partnership with All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC) and the HSE.

Our aim is to support and empower nursing homes and their staff in the delivery of palliative, end-of-life, and bereavement care, leading in turn to enhanced quality of life for residents and a good death, easing the bereavement process for their families. Shaped by a spirit of compassion for people in their care, it is underpinned by expertise, experience and research, to support and empower nursing homes.

Learn more at caru.ie.