Making Music at Loveday
Music therapy can offer numerous benefits for the elderly and people living with dementia. At Loveday, music has always been an integral part of our activities curriculum and we strive to deliver daily musical experiences to enhance the lives of our Members.
Personalised approach
Before Members join Loveday, our expert team conducts a thorough lifestyle assessment, exploring the hobbies, interests, culinary preferences, daily rituals, culture, traditions and musical tastes (amongst many more things!) This information is used to curate a personalised care plan for the Member and also helps to shape our innovative musical programme which is a fundamental part of life at Loveday.
Diverse musical programme
Every week, we have an array of performers come to our residences who entertain with a diverse genre including jazz, classical, rock, pop, opera, blues, country and folk. Members love nothing more than requesting their favourite songs and singing and dancing away the afternoon. The musicians also perform with a variety of instruments ranging from the harp and accordion to cello, violin, flute saxophone, clarinet and double bass. Not forgetting our own grand pianos which are played daily by external performers, Members and also our talented team! The effect of music on their happiness and contentedness is remarkable and is a great opportunity for our carers to learn more about the Members observing the response to particular songs and musical genres.
Sensory benefits
As part of our music therapy, Members learn to play instruments which is a hugely beneficial sensory experience embracing touch, sight and hearing. They love holding and touching different instruments, exploring how to create different sounds. This activity has shown to enhance mood, reduce anxiety and foster a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.
Progressive application
Psychodynamic dance therapy is another very popular activity at Loveday which explores the therapeutic use of dance, movement and music to promote communication and understanding with the aim of helping emotional and psychological challenges. This has shown to have positive outcomes on our Members and is loved by all.
Live Performances
Supporting our Members to continue enjoying their life to the full is one of our passions at Loveday and we love nothing more than taking Members to enjoy live music in external venues. Trips to the Royal Albert Hall, the London Symphony Orchestra Lunchtime Concert: String Experience at St Luke’s Church and the Royal Opera House are plentiful. Our weekend outing to Songhaven Relaxed Concerts are also a highlight.
In the summer we were thrilled to sponsor Opera Holland Park's 2023 season which included some of our Member’s favourite operas – Rigoletto, Hansel and Gretel, La Boheme and Ruddigor. It was also the world premiere of the new opera “Itch”, based on the children’s books by Simon Mayo. Our partnership with Opera Holland Park has been going since 2022 and includes monthly opera afternoon teas at Loveday Kensington, which sees some of the country’s finest performers entertain our Members.
Cultural celebrations
Celebrating the different cultures and traditions of our Members and team is hugely important to us at Loveday and music is fundamental to this. It helps to connect and engage people, and also helps reduce feelings of isolation and provides a source of joy and cultural enrichment to all. At Loveday, we have enjoyed themed days from a multitude of cultures with music to complement them. Some of the highlights include Bollywood music and dancing, the digeridoo for Australia Day, Mariachi bands for Cinco de Mayo, an Elvis impersonator for 4th of July celebrations, a 40s band for VE day and bagpipes for Burn’s night (complete with Highland Dancers, haggis and all of the ceremony). Of course, we love to celebrate Eurovision also!
Loveday's dedication to enhancing the lives of our elderly Members, including those living with dementia, through music therapy is a central part of our commitment. With music's emotional, cognitive, and social benefits, our expert team continues to deliver exceptional and meaningful experiences tailored to each individual's preferences and needs, further enhancing their quality of life.
