Ukelele band has 'calming effect' on care home residents

A ukulele band visited Aden Court care home in Huddersfield, producing a ‘calming effect’ on residents and boosting their mood.

Residents at the home have been enjoying regular music sessions as part of the care home’s activities programme. Local musicians and bands have been attending the home to perform concerts for residents, ranging from big brass band performances in communal areas to more intimate bedside singing accompanied by a guitar.

Music has been credited with slowing cognitive decline, with Veronica Franklin Gould, founder of Arts 4 Dementia, calling it a “visceral language more profound than words” which can “bypass symptoms of dementia, reach deep emotions to stimulate though processes and enable speech”.

Maddie Simpson, activities coordinator at Aden Court Care Home, has found the music sessions have been highly beneficial to both residents and staff, boosting their wellbeing and engendering a sense of calm within the home.

She said: “Entertaining residents with a large range of music is a priority for the activities programme at Aden Court. This has proven a thoroughly enjoyable activity for all residents, and is something they always look forward to.

“We are very grateful to the musicians who take the time out of their day to visit us and look forward to continuing to expand the programme in the future.”

The ukelele band is returning to the care home next month to perform for residents.

Aden Court is part of New Century Care, which provides residential and nursing care for residents in a homely setting.

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