Residents Luton Care Home Celebrate World Music Therapy Day
Residents at Little Bramingham Farm, the Luton-based residential care home run by charity, Friends of the Elderly, got their groove on and boogied on down at a ‘Disco-tastic’ silent disco to celebrate this year’s World Music Therapy Day.
“The residents love all genres of music, enjoy all our regular sing-alongs, dance sessions and musical entertainment performances,” said Emma Lawrance, the Registered Manager at Little Bramingham Farm. “Knowing this, we thought it would be a great idea to get the Disco Fever underway, the glitter ball spinning, toes tapping and hips swaying and host our very own silent disco to celebrate this year’s World Music Therapy Day.
“World Music Therapy Day is so beneficial for the residents because it is a day to showcase how music improves cognitive, emotional, and physical well-being. By enjoying and engaging with music, either by listening or singing, it can lift spirits, reduce anxiety, and is also a wonderful reminiscing exercise too.”
“To make sure we got the party going, we combined the silent disco with one of our regular, fun exercise classes with Helen Rolls,” continued Karen Charity, the Activities Coordinator at the care home. “The residents put their headphones on then Helen got everyone to follow some simple seated dance moves. The music started and so did the singing and dancing – and some residents got up and danced around as well.”
“Having a silent disco was not only fantastic fun, but also really good for the residents,” added Emma. “Music engages multiple brain areas, enhances memories and can help to reduce anxiety, assist with lowering blood pressure and ease any feelings of worry. Hosting the group silent disco provided a wonderful social interaction and brought an added feeling of community to the care home.”
“Silent discos have become a popular way to enjoy music, and our silent disco just goes to prove they are not just for the younger generation,” continued Emma. “The residents had a fantastic experience, listening and dancing to their favourite songs and hearing new ones too. It was a fun, inclusive, and easily accessible way for them to enjoy music, dance, and socialise with each other in a new setting.”
“Dancing or doing seated dance moves to music are excellent low-impact exercises which help to improve balance, coordination, and cardiovascular health in a fun and engaging way – and when the oldies were played, it was a lovely, nostalgic and reminiscing time for the residents as well,”
“We’ll definitely be hosting more silent discos, as the residents absolutely had a marvellous time. In fact, they had a wonderful ‘disco-very’ of a new, fun and interactive activity which will become firm fixtures on our wide and varied activities calendar,” concluded Emma.
