Any visitors to Gorselands (or anyone keeping an eye on our social media posts) will know that we love a bit of music here. And for good reason too! Music is an important part of many people’s lives and, as a study by the British Association for Music Therapy states, it can provide us with ways to connect and share feelings as well as offering stimulation and encouraging expression too.
For older people, the benefits are even more important, for example, allowing those with dementia to connect with others through shared music making, and for individuals to unlock happy memories listening to songs from their past. Mental plus points aside, music can also be beneficial to physical health as well – encouraging people to get dancing. Research shows that even minimal movements such as foot tapping or hand clapping can be enough to release pent-up mental and physical stress.
At Gorselands, our residents are never short of music. We have a busy schedule of visiting singers and performers – including Andy the accordion player (offering up favourite tunes such as My Old Man Said Follow the Van), Retro Rita (who never fails to bring a taste of the 1950s with her) and Nigel Revell with his guitar (who makes sure the residents join in for the choruses of Singing in the Rain!)
Some of our visitors offer a more immersive experience, getting our residents involved in a bit of audience participation. Malcolm gets everyone tapping time with pairs of drumsticks, whilst we all get the maracas out when Steve Linley comes to sing. On top of that, the theatrical performances of Doorstep Entertainments never fail to get our residents clapping their hands and laughing at the never-ending (and often quite absurd) costume changes.
So, if one thing’s for sure, music will always be an important part of life at Gorselands – not just for its entertainment value but for its positive effects on both physical and mental health too, allowing our residents to enjoy a happier and more fulfilled life with us.
