| Singing for the brain - Workshops for the elderly; in the community or in aged care centres |
I am now offering singing workshops for the brain for the elderly. These are particularly useful for those at risk of and who are in the various stages of dementia. I use my guitar to play and sing songs known to the people I work with from the 1940's through to the 1970's and some of my own songs. I use my experience of over 45 years of professional performance including choir leading and my training and experience in group facilitation in mental health settings to encourage singing and conversation between songs. I worked in one aged care centre now for over three years and it was very encouraging to hear people singing and talking and laughing together.
I want to take this work to more centres and will be in contact with selected ones. If you want me to come to your centre please phone 0408929186 for more details.
Here is an extract from the Alzheimer's Society page in the UK about singing for the brain.
Singing for the Brain is a service provided by Alzheimer's Society which uses singing to bring people together in a friendly and stimulating social environment.
Singing is not only an enjoyable activity, it can also provide a way for people with dementia, along with their carers, to express themselves and socialise with others in a fun and supportive group.
Hidden in the fun are activities which build on the well-known preserved memory for song and music in the brain. Even when many memories are hard to retrieve, music is especially easy to recall.
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I facilitated 'Singing Workshops' at Cypress Gardens, Greenmount, for Just over three years from 2014- 2017. It is very rewarding to hear people singing songs and talking about memories that the songs and associated conversations stimulate. I used songs from the 1930's through to the 1970's mainly with the occasional original song of mine when appropriate. Sometimes it is just fun, sometimes it is very emotional. People are coping with significant loss but I find there is benefit for them in feeling their grief through song and story telling.
I am crrently working in a Mercy Care facility in Kelmscott with a small group. The staff are very suppotive and delighted with the participation of the residents who attend.
Below you can read a reference from Mathew Jamieson who was the lifestyle co ordinator of Cypress Gardens.
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| Reference from Mathew Jamieson, Lifestyle co ordinator Cypress Gardens Aged Care facility. |
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Currently I run Music Therapy sessions at two aged care centers in the Perth Metro area. I am open to doing more if you know of any places that are considering this. The sessions involve singng with attention especially to songs with meaning for the participants. Conversation is encouraged and I share some personal stories too help that. I use songs to facilitate discussion and stories relating to the contents of the songs. There is aways good attendance and people welcome me with a genuine warmth that encourages me that that are getting real benefit from the sessions.
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