Healing touch

Using the arts to increase healthy touch between people with PMLD and their carers

Bibliographic Data

ID21213618
AuthorsLeonie Elliott-Graves (0000-0002-7281-5124, Goldsmiths University of London, corresponding author)
Year2021
Volume12
Issue1
Pages73-85
Publication date2021-04-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Applied Arts and Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2040-2457 • E-ISSN: 2040-2465
PublisherIntellect (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1386/jaah_00057_1
OpenAlexW3155740842
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited13

For adults with learning disabilities, touch is a necessary element of their everyday care. Yet touch delivered by care providers is a contentious and marginal practice, which is often avoided due to fears of abuse allegations, and the effects of touch avoidance can be significantly detrimental to the quality of care provided. The Safe Touch pilot project, developed with a London-based organization providing care to adults with learning disabilities, including those with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD), used performing arts practices and massage to help the staff develop and utilize ‘positive’ touch – touch for communication, interaction and well-being – when working with service users. Fifteen service users with learning disabilities and PMLD along with the organization’s staff participated in the project. Drawing on the project’s processes and findings, some successes and limitations in employing performing arts activities with care staff to increase the use of positive touch with people with PMLD were identified

Alternative medicine · Art · Developmental psychology · Learning disability · Massage · The arts · Visual arts · Disability Rights and Representation · Family and Disability Support Research · Healthcare innovation and challenges · Medicine · Psychology

Tools

Open DOI