Much time is spent at The Lawns enjoying music. We often host choral concerts and have musicians visiting, whether that be local singers or school groups, who greatly entertain our residents. We all love a singsong and an opportunity to dance.
Everyone is so warmly welcomed and music and dance brings such vibrancy to our home.
This week we listened to an Andre Reiu concert on-line and residents can listen to music any time they wish through headphones.
Music has long been shown to have therapeutic benefits and neuro -imaging studies confirmed in the 1990s that musical activities have a profound effect on the brain. Researchers of music therapy have developed strong evidence that musical interventions can reduce chronic pain, help patients regain speech and help patients with Parkinsons disease improve their gait.
Much research is being done to look at the way music therapy can help with Alzheimer’s disease and it has been found that music has a calming effect and reduces agitation and irritability. It relieves stress in a significant way, with the improvements in Alzheimer’s patients from just one hour with a music therapist, lasting for several days.
At The Lawns we following this ethos of the power of music. We talk to the residents about their musical tastes and whether they played an instrument or are fond of the opera, classical or popular music or musical theatre.
It is amazing for us to see the benefit of music in our residents and how everyone loves our musical activities.
We were all so moved recently by one of our residents, Alan. He finds it hard to speak to carers and other residents, but was in full song to some older classics, when listening to music through his headphones. It was an incredibly heart-warming moment.
Alan singing the classics