Care homes urged to enter Care Home Idol 2015

It is that time of the year again when care homes all over the country begin battling it out to win the coveted title of Care Home Idol.

The popular talent contest run by carehome.co.uk, the leading guide to care homes, is now in its third year and is open to people who live, work and perform in Britain’s 20,000 care homes.

Last year, thousands of people voted for their favourite residents, staff and entertainers, with the winning entry in the care home entertainer category, Linda Pelling with her Medley of Songs being viewed over 16,000 times.

The winner of the residents/staff category, Langley Haven care home in Slough, held a party to celebrate their win, which was attended by carehome.co.uk director, Davina Ludlow and MP Fiona McTaggert.

Music has huge impact on people's wellbeing

carehome.co.uk hopes Care Home Idol will encourage more care homes to get their residents to sing and perform as music can have a huge impact on people’s wellbeing.

Studies have shown music can dramatically affect people with dementia and a huge number of people in care homes have some form of dementia. Music has the ability to unlock long-forgotten memories, reaching parts of the brain that other forms of communication are unable to.

“We tend to remain contactable as musical beings on some level right up to the very end of life,” said Professor Paul Robertson, a concert violinist and academic who has made a study of music in dementia care.

“We know that the auditory system of the brain is the first to fully function at 16 weeks, which means that you are musically receptive long before anything else. So it’s a case of first in, last out when it comes to a dementia-type breakdown of memory.”

The contest is backed by MP Penny Mordaunt, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Ageing and Older People. She is calling for people to get behind the initiative and vote for their favourite care home resident. She said: “This initiative is great fun and a good excuse for a knees-up in homes around the country.

“There is rightly much focus on the care system when things go wrong, but we should remember that there are also some wonderful homes out there where residents are supported to pursue their hobbies and talents, while being engaged and entertained.”

Active engagement key to staying healthy and happy

MP Tracey Crouch, vice-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia, has also lent her support to Care Home Idol. She said: “I hope this initiative highlights some of the many examples of good practice across the care home sector and that others follow their lead.

“Music can be very beneficial to the wellbeing of older people particularly those with dementia. Active engagement and enjoyment is key to helping older people stay happy and healthy.”

Karen Allen, manager of Waterfield House care home, which entered the Harlem Shake video, in Care Home Idol 2013, was keen to enter the competition as she said the “negativity of care homes really gets us down when there is no good publicity to show there are some really caring and loving places out there”.

“The residents absolutely loved it and still talk about it now – the video brings a smile to all who watch it.”

Care Home Idol gives care home residents a chance to shine

Sylvie Silver, director of the National Association for the Providers of Activities for Older People (NAPA), is full of praise for Care Home Idol, saying: “Care homes are full of talented older people who don’t get many opportunities to show off their skills so a competition like Care home Idol gives them a chance to shine. Activities that have meaning and purpose - and a chance to win something - will always motivate residents far more than doing something just for the sake of it.”

Davina Ludlow, director of carehome.co.uk, is hoping to see even more entries this year. She said: “We are delighted to once again be running Care Home Idol, which is a fantastic opportunity to shine a spotlight on all the great talent that exists in care homes and challenge ageist stereotypes.

“Care Home Idol 2013 and Care Home Idol 2014 received huge amounts of local and national media attention and even gained the backing of a number of MPs!

“We look forward to receiving your entries for Care Home Idol 2015.”

Last year’s winners were from Langley Haven Care Home, in Slough, Berkshire, who managed to scoop first prize with their rendition of ‘Maybe it’s Because I am a Londoner’. The runners up were Ashley Gardens Care Centre in Maidstone, Forward Vision in Edinburgh and the Oldest Choir in the World from St John's House in York.

In the professional entertainers’ category, Linda Pelling from Wirral, scooped the top spot and the runners-up were Kiddleydivey from Buckinghamshire, Matthew Gembalczyk from Ange's Entertainment, Manchester and Brian Shaw from Southend-on-sea.

All care homes listed on carehome.co.uk are entitled to upload videos of any act or event performed by residents or staff, that took place from 1 January 2015 - mid January 2016.

Entries can be submitted until mid January 2016 - but the earlier you enter, the more time there is for people to vote for your performance. The winners will be announced on 1 February 2016.

Winners are calculated by the number of votes cast. The winning entertainer and the winning residents/staff will receive a trophy and a cash prize, with the residents/staff category also receiving a Sing for Your Life Music Box.

Sing for Your Life Music Box

The Sing for Your Life Music Box enables care homes to easily run singing and reminiscence sessions which engage residents and improve their wellbeing.

Paula Monaghan, general manager of Sing for your Life, said: “The music box system is simple to use. No formal musical training is required and it can therefore be operated by any staff member or volunteer. This enables singing to be available whenever it is required.

“We have found that singing sessions with the Music Box provides excellent cognitive stimulation therapy and interaction, reduces incidents of challenging behaviour and improves appetite.”

Entering Care Home Idol is easy. Simply take a short video of your event, on a phone or a camera, and click on the link to upload it: www.carehome.co.uk/idol/