Unmasked Connections: Piloting Virtual Interactive Artist Performances in Healthcare — A Feasibility Study

The arts offer many health benefits and can be especially impactful in hospital or continuing care facilities through group art interventions or personalized art activities. Arts can also be socially prescribed to fulfill social needs, improve emotional well-being, and have a positive impact of the social determinants of heath. This feasibility study explores the value of a pilot program that brought personalized virtual 1-on-1 art performances to residents in long-term care (LTC) during the Covid-19 pandemic which limited social activities and caused feelings of uncertainty and stress for many people. The purpose of this study was to document the process of developing and executing this pilot program, to evaluate its feasibility, and to provide a testimony to the benefits of art programs in LTC. This study qualifies as a feasibility study because it aimed to evaluate the quality, efficiency, and financial feasibility of the pilot project, making the primary objective of this research quality improvement. Online surveys were completed by the participating LTC residents, the Recreation Staff in the LTC facility, the hired artists, and the organizing team (Radical Connections). The results of the surveys strongly indicate that the pilot was successful and proved to be viable; the sessions were high quality, person-centered artistic care was made accessible to a vulnerable population at a sustainable cost, and most importantly, a demand for this type of program was revealed.