Forever Young

Background image: There are three people and a cat within this image. Two people wear black masks over their faces, one wears a boater hat and the other holds the cat puppet up to an elderly person sitting on a bed. The elderly person pats and consoles the puppet cat.
Puppetry in Aged Care

When and What

  • Now
  • Incursion

Summary

  • A groundbreaking program of therapy-informed puppetry in aged care
  • Featuring scalable programs tailored to the audience and environment
  • Draws on research into arts in aged and dementia care showing that creative processes can be used to evoke memories, enable people to communicate about their experience, reinforce identity and strengthen relationships
  • Delivered by highly skilled artists experienced in storytelling, puppetry, aged care and therapeutic program delivery

Impact

  • Has toured to more than 2,600 elders in Tasmania and Victoria
  • Evaluated by the University of Tasmania, finding that the program is accessible, engaging and relevant for older audiences

three people are in shot, all looking and smiling at the camera, one person is elderly and is holding a puppet baby, the other two are dressed in matching yellow and blue striped uniforms with boater hats and black face masks
Peter Mathew

Description

Forever Young is a modular suite of programs designed to make lives better in aged care settings.

We’re aiming to overcome resident isolation and improve wellbeing and meaningful self-expression, supporting families and carers in a community-building approach to care.

Pullout quote

Puppetry proved to be a universal language which all residents, no matter their cognition, could benefit from and engage with in some way.
– Aged care staff member, 2023
An elderly woman sitting on a bed holds and pats a cat puppet, there is another person puppeteering the cat puppet and
Peter Mathew

Interested in collaborating with us?

  • An elderly person sits in a wheelchair, they wear a leopard print head wrap and a blue jumper, they sit and hold a baby puppet
    Peter Mathew

Partners

  • Founding Industry Partner
  • Supported by