Music and Singing
Music plays a very special role in daily life at Rathkeevan Nursing Home. Not only does it support health and wellbeing, it also brings people together and creates moments of shared joy and connection.
Music is a powerful way to lift the spirit, spark memories and encourage residents to engage with one another in a relaxed and enjoyable environment.
The Benefits of Music
Research continues to show that music can have a positive impact on both physical and emotional wellbeing.
A study from Harvard University found that relaxing music may help lower blood pressure and heart rate after physical exertion. It can improve mood, reduce anxiety and, by bringing people together, can act as an antidote to loneliness and isolation.
Music is also a wonderful creative outlet, particularly for residents living with dementia. Through music and song, residents may be able to communicate and connect with loved ones in ways that are sometimes difficult through conversation alone.
Music, Memory and Connection
Music has long been linked to memory enhancement and has been shown to help reduce cognitive decline in older adults.
Hearing familiar songs from earlier years can reconnect residents with memories, emotions and experiences from the past, helping them feel closer to their loved ones and to their own life stories.
These moments of recognition and joy are often some of the most meaningful experiences shared within the home.
Music in the Joy of Living Programme
Through the Joy of Living Activities Programme, we aim to ensure that residents have regular opportunities to express and experience joy through music and singing.
Residents enjoy both recorded music and live performances, particularly music that was popular during their younger years.
Weekly live music sessions are an important part of life in Rathkeevan and may take place as:
- Large group gatherings where residents come together to sing and enjoy music
- Smaller, more intimate sessions in dayrooms
- Individual performances in private rooms for residents who may prefer quieter settings
It is important to us that every resident has the opportunity to enjoy live music each week. Throughout the year we also welcome visiting performers and choirs who bring additional energy and celebration to the home, particularly during festive seasons such as Christmas.
Research Supporting Arts Participation
The positive effects of music and arts participation are supported by research. In a landmark two-year study, Gene D. Cohen (often cited in arts-and-ageing research and referenced in the Chen studies of 2006) explored the effects of arts participation among 300 senior citizens aged 65 and older in New York City, San Francisco and Washington DC.
Compared with a control group that had limited arts participation, those who took part in a weekly arts programme — including music — experienced:
- Better overall health
- Fewer doctor visits
- Reduced medication usage
- More positive mental health responses
- Greater participation in social activities
The findings suggest that engagement with music and the arts can contribute to true health promotion and disease prevention in older adults.