Creating Joy Through Live Music
“Everyone joined in and the musicians took time to gently involve a resident who is blind. Another lady who has dementia said she felt very special because of the artists’ obvious enjoyment at playing to the residents.”
Music in Hospitals
Older people
Older people face a number of challenges in the latter years of their life such as; feelings of isolation and depression perhaps after the loss of a loved one, family or friends; the loss of independence; the declining ability to take care of basic needs or live at home on their own. There are also mental health problems such as Dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease to consider. A growing body of research suggests that live music has a powerful role to play in improving the daily lives of these vulnerable people.
At a Music in Hospitals concert, memories are revived and all kinds of emotions are released, thus allowing staff to gain fresh insights into individual backgrounds and tastes.
Members of staff or relatives often report that a patient who had not communicated since becoming ill, perhaps having suffered a stroke, joined in as the music played and their eyes and faces lit up with pleasure and understanding.
Click here to see an example of the numerous projects we have undertaken to support Music in Hospitals concerts for older people. This project was generously supported by Bupa.
