Residents enjoy an arty snack

Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) and Arts Outwest have given residents at Blayney Multipurpose Service (MPS) many reasons to laugh and smile with the Virtual Art Snacks program.

The Virtual Art Snack program trains rural artists and health workers to deliver activities to aged care residents and their carers.

Blayney Multipurpose Service Manager, Kathy Hiller, said, “For the past two years our residents and staff have been taking part and the residents have really enjoyed it.

“The residents have had so much fun with these sessions. We have seen a number of positive impacts including an increase in socialisation between residents and acute care patients.

“Everyone looks forward to it and want to come out of their rooms each week to get there. It is always fun and there are plenty of smiles and laughs to go around.”

The workshop series in Blayney started in August 2021 and are delivered virtually by artists via video conferencing played on the large television screens at the MPS.

Diversional Therapist Allyson Goodman, said, “It was fantastic to watch the residents embrace and enjoy this program. They felt uplifted, valued, appreciated and they really enjoyed it.

“Residents who were reserved at the beginning were really embracing and getting involved by the end.”

The program has run across a number of WNSWLHD MPS’s, including Dunedoo, Oberon, Warren, Baradine, Nyngan, Blayney, Coolah, Coonamble and Rylstone. 

“We are very grateful to have been part of this program. Our Activities Officer has been trained and will continue to deliver these art snacks for our residents and their carers,” Mrs Hiller added.