Care Home Idol competition shows how music can revolutionise residential care

carehome.co.uk’s innovative care home talent competition, Care Home Idol, was set up last year with the aim of showing the brighter and fun side to care homes.

Care home residents and staff, along with professional entertainers are being invited to enter this year’s competition by uploading a video of themselves performing.

The public are then invited to vote for their favourite…

The Competition

Last year, thousands of people voted, with ninety-six-year-old Gladys Stephens and care worker Bev Temple, of link . Their winning entry, was viewed by over 25,000 people.

Other entries included the Oldest Choir in the World , the Anchor Community Band and Waterfield House care home residents doing the Harlem Shake.

Davina Ludlow, director of carehome.co.uk, said: “Care Home Idol is an annual competition that opens a window on the active and talented communities that thrive inside care homes.

“When you look at the performances that have already been uploaded to carehome.co.uk, you see people sharing songs, jokes and memories. You see smiles, you see people having fun. It is also another way residents and their families can stay in touch. “Care Home Idol aims to help break down the barriers that can exist between a care home and the wider communities they serve. It also shows the warm relationships that can exist between the staff and the residents.”

Ms Ludlow hopes the talent contest will showcase all the activities and entertainment being carried out in care homes, as well as highlighting the importance and benefits of good quality, meaningful activities in care homes.

Activities as a priority

Activities are not deemed an official element of care and the risk is that they can take a back seat in the priorities of running a care home.

Activities are not a category assessed by the Care Quality Commission, the regulatory authority for care homes. However there are plenty of people around talking about their importance.

The National Association for Providers of Activities for Older People (NAPA) campaign to bring activities for older people to the forefront of thinking in both care homes and communities. NAPA, unsurprisingly is a supporter of Care Home Idol. Sylvie Silver from the organisation said:

“I have had the honour to see a number of talent show style events for older people. I am always delighted to see the level of engagement and sheer fun to be had on these occasions. National competitions like Care Home Idol encourage care homes to be a bit competitive and stage these events which everyone can benefit from even if they only watch the videos afterwards.”

One of the more touching videos, which has already been entered for this year’s Care Home Idol, was uploaded by , a company which provides music therapy for older people, and people living with dementia.

Sally Murphy from Kiddleydivey gave carehome.co.uk an insight into what can be expected from a music therapy session, saying: “The use of music as therapy is well documented and the many benefits music elicits have been found to be extremely beneficial when working with the elderly. Music helps people reconnect with their past and facilitates memory function.

“Music activities provide an opportunity for families to share experiences and help to maintain relationships with loved ones. It also relieves and diminishes anxiety and depression giving everyone a channel for self-expression.”

Talking about Care Home Idol, Ms Murphy said: “The [Care Home Idol] competition provides a wonderful place for entertainers to demonstrate their work that may otherwise go unnoticed. All the videos give an interesting insight into how music works and shows the various ways for improving/changing the lives of the elderly.”

The most heart-warming element of Kiddleydivey’s video is the happiness expressed by residents at the end. Ms Murphy said:

“The most rewarding element of my job is seeing the smiles on the peoples’ faces as we leave and hearing “please come back soon” every time we go! Also, of course seeing the benefits that be achieved in the long term.

“Activity is extremely important for the elderly – as important as food and drink! If people are not engaged in activity and involved in regular social events they begin to decline very quickly. I would really like to see good quality therapeutic activities in every care home in the UK.

“Depressive or anxiety symptoms have been reduced in some residents who have participated in sessions of active music. Some other elderly people have improved their balance when walking and strengthened their muscles with our gentle exercise. Residents begin to share and talk about their life experiences when music stimulates their thought processes and people who don’t usually speak have been known to sing along to the words of the songs for the whole session!”

Watch all 2014 Care Home Idol videos here.