Goffman defined stigma as “the situation of the individual who is disqualified from full social acceptance”. Mental health experts suggest that it refers to the "negative effects of a label placed on any group including those who have been diagnosed as having mental health problems" (Hayward & Bright, 1997). We were commissioned by Milton Keynes Council Older Peoples Services to develop and deliver a project which would explore and challenge negative stereotypes of ageing.The project ‘Active & Positive’ began with a series of participatory singing and reminiscence Workshops with groups of older people, exploring their feelings about growing older.
The selected artist Matt Sage delivered a programme of forty Singing workshops across Milton Keynes to approximately 300 residents and service users at Red Cross Day Centres; Age Concern lunch clubs; Care Centres and local centres for dementia care.
All the workshop sessions were documented photographically and we gathered feedback from participants and centre staff.
The photographs and feedback have been used to form a travelling exhibition and accompanying publication which demonstrates in an interesting and sympathetic way the positive aspects of growing older.
Feedback
Centre Manager
‘They found the experience very enjoyable yet challenging at the same time.
Whilst writing the song Matt would write the clients’ suggestions and ideas down on a flipchart so all could see and also comment verbally for those who could not see thus making it very inclusive. He ignored us, the staff with regards to our comments and concentrated on the clients! We just couldn’t help chip in as well!
Clients
Nice to do something constructive
Enjoyed everything, doing the picture to show the song words
I started to think what has Helena arranged? But once I got into it I really enjoyed it!
I really enjoyed working together to get the best line of the song, choosing and changing the words. The end product turned out very well. It was obvious how everyone enjoyed it.
The song turned out much better than we thought it would.
I didn’t think at 95 years of age I would become a song writer
Grete Dalum-Tilds, photographer:
‘If stigma is a preconceived negative notion towards a group of people then it must be that the best argument against that is to show the individuality and the difference in the person. Confronted with the individual and the presence of the person that is and the person that was, and the person that is momentarily accessible, the notion of stigma melts into a desire for dignity and attention and care - where needed.
The most significant example of the notion of presence was a lady who was sitting with her head down most of the time, but at the time where Matt came over and talked to her she lifted her head and beamed the brightest and you could tell she was paying attention the whole time.
In taking the photographs I was trying to capture the face and the expression of the individual, the texture of the face as a reflection of the reminiscence process.’
More information available on our website- www.mkartsforhealth.org.uk
