Musical Care – ‘Heart-Warming and Inspirational’ says Mr Zahawi MP
MHA the UK’s largest charity care provider for older people welcomed the Rt Hon. Nadhim Zahawi MP to its Cedar Lodge care home in Henley-in-Arden, West Midlands on Friday 25th March.
The Stratford-on-Avon MP was given a tour of MHA Cedar Lodge, had the opportunity to speak with staff and residents and take part in a live music therapy session with residents at the home.
MHA is a leading provider of award-winning music therapy in dementia care across the UK, providing pioneering music therapy to people living with dementia in its specialist dementia care homes. As one of the biggest employers of music therapists in the country, the highly trained therapists provide both individual and group music sessions which interact directly with care home residents through singing, playing simple percussion instruments, or responding to musical cues.
The person centred approach helps to reduce the signs of distress for people living with dementia and provide opportunities for self-expression and communication. Music therapists are able to provide feedback to care colleagues to support an individual’s care plan. Satyam Makoieva, Music Therapist at MHA ran a live music session for residents and was delighted Mr Zahawi decided to take part.
Mr Zahawi said of his visit:
“What I have seen today is truly heart-warming and inspirational. I would love to see this level of musical care more widely available so that more people in Stratford on Avon and across the country can benefit from this powerful support.”
Supporting the visit, Grace Meadows, Campaign Director at Music for Dementia, said:
“MHA is exemplary in establishing and implementing an organisation wide music strategy that is testament to its commitment to using the power of music to engage with and support people living with dementia in its care homes. We want to see this commitment replicated in all care homes and for all carers to have the skills to feel confident in using music as part of their care so that music becomes an integral part of dementia care.”
Dan Ryan, Director of Operations, MHA said:
“We have thoroughly enjoyed Mr Zahawi’s visit to MHA Cedar Lodge. With his extensive experience in adult social care formerly as Vaccines Minister and now Secretary of State for Education, he had the opportunity to see first-hand the great work done by the team to care and support residents. We were also able to talk about the issues and challenges currently affecting the care sector. This includes the on-going significant workforce pressures and the continuing challenges of the pandemic and its effect on care homes.”
