Tailoring cultural offers to meet the needs of older people during uncertain times: a rapid realist review

Abstract

Background Non-medical issues (e.g. loneliness, financial concerns, housing problems) can shape how people feel physically and psychologically. This has been emphasised during the Covid-19 pandemic, especially for older people. Social prescribing is proposed as a means of addressing non-medical issues, which can include drawing on support offered by the cultural sector. Method A rapid realist review was conducted to explore how the cultural sector (in particular public/curated gardens, libraries and museums), as part of social prescribing, can support the holistic well-being of older people under conditions imposed by the pandemic. An initial programme theory was developed from our existing knowledge and discussions with cultural sector staff. It informed searches on databases and within the grey literature for relevant documents, which were screened against the review’s inclusion criteria. Data were extracted from these documents to develop context-mechanism-outcome configurations (CMOCs). We used the CMOCs to refine our initial programme theory. Results Data were extracted from 42 documents. CMOCs developed from these documents highlighted the importance of tailoring—shaping support available through the cultural sector to the needs and expectations of older people—through messaging, matching, monitoring and partnerships. Tailoring can help to secure benefits that older people may derive from engaging with a cultural offer—being distracted (absorbed in an activity) or psychologically held, making connections or transforming through self-growth. We explored the idea of tailoring in more detail by considering it in relation to Social Exchange Theory. Conclusions Tailoring cultural offers to the variety of conditions and circumstances encountered in later life, and to changes in social circumstances (e.g. a global pandemic), is central to social prescribing for older people involving the cultural sector. Adaptations should be directed towards achieving key benefits for older people who have reported feeling lonely, anxious and unwell during the pandemic and recovery from it.

Social prescribing for older people and the role of the cultural sector during the COVID ‐19 pandemic: What are link workers' views and experiences?

“…not feeling they are someone who would fit into a cultural venue, lacking confidence to attend cultural activities). Other research in this area suggests that a ‘buddy’ system could be one way of addressing such challenges (Tierney et al, 2022). Likewise, cultural venues must consider physical accessibility (e.g.…”

“…Link workers can help to activate an individual's self-reliance or agency; this may stop someone turning immediately to their GP for assistance (Tierney et al, 2020;Tierney et al, 2022). Link workers can also help people to feel better connected, giving wider purpose to their life, although positive outcomes are not inevitable (Husk et al, 2020).…”

“…They help people to identify factors impeding their health and well‐being, and co‐develop plans to access groups, organisations, charities or activities in the local area to address these issues (NHS England, 2019). Link workers can help to activate an individual's self‐reliance or agency; this may stop someone turning immediately to their GP for assistance (Tierney et al, 2020; Tierney et al, 2022). Link workers can also help people to feel better connected, giving wider purpose to their life, although positive outcomes are not inevitable (Husk et al, 2020).…”

“…The situation was compounded by existing services and activities temporarily closing due to social distancing measures, placing a limit on what link workers could connect people to for support (Westlake et al, 2022). This was a problem since success for link workers relies on connecting people to community assets that meet their non‐medical difficulties (Tierney et al, 2020; Tierney et al, 2022); to do this, link workers ideally need to know about a range of local groups, activities, organisations and charities.…”

“…research in this area suggests that a 'buddy' system could be one way of addressing such challenges(Tierney et al, 2022). Likewise, cultural venues must consider physical accessibility (e.g.…”