Music therapy hits the right note for Cheltenham care home residents

Home news

Dec 03, 2015

Residents at Sandfields care home in Cheltenham have been benefiting from an innovative programme of music therapy, with the regular sing-alongs helping one individual to regain the power of speech.

The team at the care home on St George’s Road joined forces with Gloucestershire-based charity, Mindsong, to provide music therapy sessions for residents over a year ago.  Following the success of the initiative, activities lead, David Ible has worked alongside Mindsong to continue to implement a music programme within the home.

David explained: “Music therapy has had an incredible effect on many of our residents here at Sandfields and the sessions have proven just how effective music can be in lifting the spirits and creating a sense of togetherness. Singing, and music in general, can trigger reactions from many different areas of the brain and it helps to provide a way to connect and engage with others.

“The sessions have also been extremely valuable when it comes to reminiscence – particularly for those living with dementia.  Even when memories become particularly hard to remember, often music can still be recalled, so a group sing-along is a good way of building on the well-known preserved memory for song and music.

“One of the overwhelming success stories has been Richard who had a stroke and lost the power of speech. By regularly taking part in the music therapy sessions Richard has regained his ability to talk.  It has been simply amazing to see his progress and it has been so heart-warming to see family’s reaction now Richard is able to verbally communicate with them.”

Commenting on the success of the Mindsong sessions, Deanna Lane, home manager at Sandfields, added: “Working with Mindsong has been a wonderful experience and we have seen great changes seen since we first began working with the charity.

“David has been leading the whole team in embracing music more actively in the care home; and we regularly use music to connect with residents, and to help them to socialise and relax with one another. Sometimes, a member of the team will start singing a well-known song and they will encourage other residents to join in. This creates a very calm and happy atmosphere in the home.

“We are all very passionate about the role music therapy plays at Sandfields and we are so pleased that the residents are clearly continuing to benefit from this.”