Film in Care

Watching a film can be a meaningful, therapeutic activity for older people living in care homes. The Film in Care resource provides a practical guide on how to present film to people living in care homes in a way that will be most beneficial to them. It has been written in partnership with two Dundee University researchers who carried out their own original research on this topic.

The resource contains 10 Core Principles for Film in Care, which is intended to give you a basic ‘how to’ guide for film screenings within your own homes, while also complying fully with current Covid-19 guidance to ensure screenings are conducted as safely as possible.

The benefits of film in care have been shown to include improved moods, sleep, physical health, companionship and more. The link to the principles within the Health and Social Care Standards is apparent in all areas. 

Get in touch

We are also inviting services to share their comments and feedback, their own experiences, or to get tips on running their own screenings by emailing us: filmincare@careinspectorate.gov.scot

Background

We worked with staff in four care homes to carry out their own film screening events with the people who live there. Throughout the resource, you will see many quotes from the staff and people who live in the care homes on how they personally experienced or witnessed the success of these screenings. Staff in the care homes incorporated aspects such as special movie snacks and screening areas to help people fully relax within their own home and just enjoy the film. In some circumstances, relatives were able to view films with their loved ones.

In a post-covid world it is more essential than ever that older people enjoy lives which are personally fulfilling, meaningful and which allow home to feel like home. The Film in Care resource is a perfect way to bring a greater sense of normality back to life within the care home setting.

We hope that this will inspire you to view film as a way of providing meaningful, enriching experiences to older people living in care homes.

For a link to the original research please see University of Dundee website.