Care homes are alive with the sound of music

Care homes across England celebrated the last night of the proms in style, with live music, performance and dance.

We joined forces with Live Music Now to challenge care homes to take part in the Live Music in Care challenge to help highlight the important role that live music can play, and we were blown away with the response

More than 100 care homes took part, from Sleepy Jean ringing out in Ormksirk, to The Sailors Hornpipe in Plymouth, and of course, some Rule Britannia reverberating out from homes all over the country. We enjoyed our very own session with Afro Samba in Wandsworth at Nightingale House

We're *still* seeing #LiveMusicInCare challenge videos come in, and they look excellent!

Thank you, and remember, live music isn't just for the last night of the proms #CareAware @LiveMusicNowUK pic.twitter.com/q29xw3Neli

— Care Quality Commission (@CareQualityComm) September 12, 2018

While all of this was great fun, it also served a greater purpose too – Music can have a transformative effect on people. Taking part in music and music-making can have a great impact on your social and emotional wellbeing, and your quality of life. It can also remain a way of communication when speech is lost through dementia.

It’s not just residents that benefit from this, many staff that take part in music activities report increased job satisfaction and enjoyment.

Later life should be a time of creativity and discovery, and music is just one way to help ensure care homes can offer this.

Evan Dawson of Live Music Now said:

‘Everyone at Live Music Now has been excited to work with the Care Quality Commission and care homes all around the country to celebrate the importance of Live Music in Care. We’ve been inundated with very moving stories and videos from across the country of older people creating music alongside musicians and care staff. In many care homes, music is clearly thriving - but there are still too many where live music is never made. At LMN, we will keep working to help every UK care home become a musical home.’

We know that choosing care for yourself of a loved one can be difficult, that’s why we’ve developed Care Aware, giving you tips and reports to help you find the care home that’s right for you or a loved one.