Music brings joy to care home residents and school children
Two projects are using the power of music to enhance wellbeing in care homes and make connections with local school children
We know that music can help improve health and wellbeing. Recently, two not-for-profit organisations brought the power of music to care home residents with exciting projects that worked with local musicians and improved connections between generations.
Musica Music and Wellbeing CIC supports the wellbeing of people living with dementia and their caregivers through music. They achieve this by providing online training, coaching and support for healthcare professionals and unpaid caregivers, to embed meaningful music within dementia care. Alongside training delivery, they also offer group music workshops and performances within care homes and hospitals.
They successfully piloted a 6 month in-house social prescribing model project, Musica In Residence, in partnership with Hallmark Care Homes.
Music enhances wellbeing
Working with two care homes last year, residents were referred to the one-to-one weekly music session with a Musica community musician. A full evaluation of the project showed that Musica In Residence improved both the quality of life for the individuals referred to the music sessions, and the care given by the team as a whole, through strengthening relational connections.
“I have been delighted to see the impact of the Musica Iin Rresidence pilot with Hallmark Care homes. There has been a lot of learning around what a potential social prescription model can look like within care homes, and I’m excited to continue to work with Hallmark to role this out to more homes.”
Following the successful pilot, Hallmark are continuing with the Musica In Residence programme within three of their care homes.
Music that connects generations
Intergenerational Music Making (IMM) connects generations through the power of music. They do this by delivering programmes and training, and undertaking research, to improve the mental and physical wellbeing of adults and children.
IMM’s unique approach combines clinical practices used in music therapy with bespoke techniques proven to maximise intergenerational engagement.
Their pilot programme, Move & Groove, in partnership with Youth Support Trust sought to create connections between social care and education by combining music and movement into shared activities for care home residents and local school children.
One of the pilot sites, Ivonbrook and Darley Hall Care Home in Matlock, Derbyshire was paired with Highfields School to participate in aweekly 1-hour session that took place over the six-week period. Selection was based on those with limited access to music and sport, limited funding and resources, children from low socio-economic backgrounds and those with low confidence or communication skills.
The programme had a profound impact on both the residents and children, who thoroughly enjoyed participating in the activities together.
“The residents just love it, there’s lots of banter and laughter which I think helps with those personal connections. The students have been surprised that the residents have been so much fun. There was a gentleman of 102 who just said how amazing it was to have that connection with young people.”
The pilot sites are now being evaluated by Southbank University, to assess the impact on the wellbeing of both the care home residents and children, and to measure improvements in wider behaviours and functional capacity.
“Our mission is to use the magical power of music to connect young people with the older generation to tackle loneliness, isolation and create connected communities. I am delighted to be using our combined expertise in music and physical activity to benefit these two age groups and closely evaluate the mutual benefits to help children and older people to live happier and healthier lives.”
Watch the film below for more information about the Move & Groove programme.
