Social Prescription Pathways for Concurrent Arts and Wellness Programs in Regional South Australia for People Living with Dementia and Caregivers
Carolyn Murray

Date and Time

Thursday, November 12, 2026, 12:30 PM - 12:45 PM

Theme / Track

Arts, design, innovation and technology

Presentation Format

Concurrent

People living with dementia and their caregivers (dyads) often experience social isolation and reduced participation in community activities due to declining confidence, social challenges, and lack of suitable programs. This issue is heightened in regional areas where options for activities may be limited. Concurrent arts and wellness programs, which offer creative engagement for people living with dementia and respite for caregivers, have shown benefits for social connection, well‑being, and self‑esteem. Because health professionals regularly interact with dyads, their awareness of and willingness to refer to such programs is essential. This study aims to survey health professionals in regional South Australia about their needs and attitudes toward socially prescribing a concurrent arts and wellness program for dyads. Insights will inform the future co‑design of sustainable, valued programs in these communities. Following piloting with people with lived experience, an online survey will be distributed to health professionals across regional South Australia between June and August 2026. Using the COM‑B framework, the survey will explore: 1) current practice in dementia care, 2) capability to prescribe arts and wellness programs, 3) opportunities and motivations for referral, and 4) service‑design preferences. The Qualtrics survey will be disseminated via social media, email, and professional networks using purposive and snowball sampling. The target sample is 100–120 participants across diverse health disciplines. Data will be analysed using descriptive statistics and content analysis. Preliminary findings will be presented at the conference, including preliminary themes relevant to program design, referral pathways, and health‑professional attitudes. This work will contribute to sustainability of concurrent art and wellness programs embedded in regional settings.

Keywords

Community, Dementia, Informal Caregivers, Meaningful Engagement, Social Isolation

Authors

Dr Lenore de la Perrelle
Dr John Baranoff
Dr Dannielle Post
Ms Caitlin Milne