Exploring the Impact of a Participatory Arts and Health Programme on the Lives of Older Adults Experiencing Social Isolation in Waterford, Ireland The Case of Art at the Kitchen Table

Abstract

Social isolation and loneliness are pressing issues for older adults, often intensified by physical decline, bereavement, shifting social networks, and public health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, targeted arts-based initiatives have shown promise in fostering connection, reducing loneliness, and enhancing well-being through creative participation. Art at the Kitchen Table, delivered by Waterford Healing Arts (now Réalta) in Ireland, responds to this challenge by offering socially isolated older adults accessible, meaningful opportunities for artistic engagement and interpersonal connection. This study explores how participation in AKT impacts participants' personal well-being, social well-being, and artistic development, using qualitative methods including semi-structured interviews and participant observation. To understand how impacts occur, the research applies Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and the INNATE framework to analyse programme design and delivery. The study shows that participation in AKT has led to meaningful outcomes in personal well-being, social well-being, and artistic development for the older adults involved in the programme. It also offers insight into how components of the programme’s design and delivery fostered these outcomes by supporting psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. This study serves as an example of the impact that participation in participatory arts and health programmes can have on the lives of older people experiencing social isolation and highlights the value of such programmes in promoting connection, purpose, and creativity in later life.