Enhancing 1:1 Visits in Care Settings through the Creative Arts
- 8 hours ago
- 3 min read
In many care settings—such as long-term care homes, assisted living residences, adult day programs, and hospitals—1:1 visits are an important part of recreation therapy and caregiving. These visits involve spending dedicated time with one resident at a time, often offering individualized engagement for those who may not participate in group programs or who benefit from more personalized interaction.
For recreation therapists and caregivers, 1:1 visits in care settings offer a special opportunity to slow down and connect with residents and loved ones in a meaningful way. While group programming brings energy and social engagement to care environments, these individual visits create space for deeper connection, personalization, and presence.
One simple yet powerful way to enrich these visits is by integrating the creative arts. Music, visual art, gentle movement, and sensory exploration can transform a short visit into a meaningful shared experience. Creative activities provide alternative ways to connect that go beyond conversation alone, which can be especially helpful when verbal communication becomes more difficult.
For individuals living with dementia, creative arts approaches can be particularly impactful. While certain cognitive abilities may change over time, many creative and emotional capacities remain strong. Rhythm, visual processing, sensory awareness, and emotional memory are often preserved, meaning creative experiences can tap into abilities that remain accessible.
This allows individuals to participate, express themselves, and experience success in the moment, which can be incredibly empowering.
The beauty of creative engagement is that it doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, the most meaningful interactions are often the simplest ones. A familiar song, a few art materials, or a shared moment of curiosity can open the door to connection.
A creative 1:1 visit in care settings might include:
Humming or singing a familiar song together
Listening to music and noticing how it makes someone feel
Sketching colours or simple shapes inspired by the season
Exploring textures through art materials
Gentle rhythmic movement with music
Looking at images or objects that spark conversation
These small creative experiences can spark joy, curiosity, and emotional connection. They engage the senses, invite self-expression, and create opportunities for residents to feel seen and valued. Creative engagement can also provide a shared focus, allowing interaction to unfold more naturally.
A song can lead to humming together.
A rhythm can spark movement and laughter.
These moments may seem small, but they often become some of the most meaningful moments of engagement and connection.
How can we help?
At MCC, we are passionate about supporting recreation therapists and caregivers with practical tools that make meaningful engagement easier to facilitate. That’s why we created the Creative Care Club—a growing library of simple, adaptable creative engagement guides designed specifically for everyday use in care settings.
Inside the Creative Care Club, recreation teams and caregivers can access ready-to-use ideas for 1:1 visits, creative engagement program plans, and practical approaches for supporting individuals living with a dementia diagnosis. Our goal is to make it easier for care teams to bring creativity into their daily work in ways that feel manageable, flexible, and impactful.
Because sometimes the most meaningful moments in care are not the big events or elaborate programs—but the quiet moments of connection created during a simple 1:1 visit.
If you're looking for fresh ideas to enhance your 1:1 visits, we invite you to explore the Creative Care Club and discover new ways to bring creativity, connection, and joy into everyday care.
