Posts Tagged ‘Senior living’
Front porch vs. Stage [Video]
Have you ever wondered what the difference between a performer and a music therapist is? Why should you pick one over the other? Does it really matter? Check out the video below with Rachelle as she explains what a music therapist does in a senior living community and why you may want one. Music therapist…
Read MoreSongs for Labor Day
Labor Day provides the perfect opportunity to ask seniors about their work experiences. Use the playlist below to inspire discussions about work, as well as the joys of the retirement years. Which songs are your favorites?
Read MoreBenefits of Music on Move-In Day: Intangible, But Very Real
What’s the value of a smile? Of a dance? Of finding one’s place in a new community? Imagine you’ve just moved to a memory care community. It’s disorienting, to say the least. Your daughter is right there by your side, and everyone is really nice, saying, “Bob, how are you doing?” “Bob, would you like…
Read MoreNew Humorous Verses for "Let Me Call You Sweetheart"
If you’ve been around eldercare for a while, you’ve probably heard the song “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.” Despite the fact that this song, published in 1910, is older that almost all of the clients we serve, it remains a popular choice, simply because many, many people know the melody and the words. In terms…
Read MoreSong Spotlight: “A Place In The Sun”
Theme: Sunshine, Hope Mood: Hopeful, Optimistic Style: Soul Have you talked about the weather yet today? Weather is a reliable conversation starter in just about every group of people, including groups that include older adults and caregivers. Of course, we can rejoice or commiserate over the actual outside conditions or reminisce about the worst snowstorm/tornado/flood…
Read MoreTop 10 Rules To Break In Music Therapy Groups In Senior Living
As diligent students, we music therapists graduate from our programs and become board-certified with certain ideas of how things should work in music therapy sessions. But of course, music therapists work with people, and with human beings, there is an exception to every rule. As I’ve matured as a clinician, I have gained flexibility in…
Read MoreThe Orchestra In Your Nursing Home
Do you have a symphony living in your nursing home? The answer might surprise you. I recently read a research article that explored the metaphor of a grand orchestra for describing a music therapy group. This group included participants with early- to mid-stage dementia. What I learned helps to explain how music therapy works for people…
Read MoreHow To Fund Music Therapy In Senior Living Communities
You have heard of music therapy and have fallen in love. You want to make this valuable service available to your clients or loved ones. So now maybe you are wondering: How are we going to pay for this? The answer is a bit complex, because the main payor source for healthcare for people over…
Read More10 Strategies for Using Music for Reminiscence
Reflecting on one’s past is a vital task of living for older adults and people approaching the end of life. When it comes to supporting reminiscence with your care recipient, music can be an especially helpful tool. (P.S. For more strategies for facilitating reminiscence, check out this post.) Songs provide discussion material that is endlessly…
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