Doorbells: Raising later life housing awareness through the arts

This project is using the arts and drama to reach out to older people who face particularly challenging situations as they age. This includes those who are ageing without children, those with caring responsibilities, living alone etc.

The project aims to stimulate debate and encourage people to think about their later life housing, potential future issues, and the value of making informed decisions in advance of a crisis, as well as raising awareness of potential sources of advice and practical housing help.

The partnership with the Elders Council of Newcastle, involving Skimstone Arts and Northumbria University, has resulted in production of a pioneering play and short film (‘Doorbells’) about housing, caring and ageing. Performances of the play and showings of the film in community venues pre-covid were well received, as were the virtual, interactive events during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The subsequent Covid-19 Doorbells film highlighted the housing problems and dilemmas faced by many older people during the pandemic lockdown, e.g. getting repairs and adaptations done, isolation, caring responsibilities when physical visiting was no longer possible etc.

Interactive performances took place during October and November 2021 with more planned.