AN ARTS project encouraging care home residents and staff to take up painting, dance, music or other creating activities has won acclaim.

The cARTrefu project run by Age Cymru saw more than 1,500 residents and 300 staff at 122 care homes across Wales get involved in art.

And an evaluation of the scheme by Dr Katherine Algar Skaife of Bangor University’s Dementia Research Centre Wales found participants’ wellbeing and social skills improved, while some regained lost abilities such as using a knife and fork.

Staff also reported improved attitudes to residents, especially those with dementia.

Age Cymru chairman Meirion Hughes said: “For far too long, our own understanding of residents’ capabilities and aspirations were often skewed.

“However, this cARTrefu project has thrust care homes and their residents to the forefront of our thinking, and rightly so, thanks to the skills of the artists and the contribution of the participating care homes and their staff.

The scheme was funded by the Arts Council of Wales and the Baring Foundation and has secured funding until 2019.