Aged care provider Fresh Hope Care is partnering with Singaporean-based music technology company I’m Soul Inc and Western Sydney University to introduce the 12-month program at its Ashwood Aged Care Services home in Pendle Hill, teaching aged care residents how to play a musical instrument.
Its 170 residents will also be taught to use music making equipment to make music of their own.
Since many people with dementia, hearing and visual impairments and physical and learning disabilities, can’t hold an instrument or read notes, the program uses technology to enable them to do this – and it’s hoped that it will have real benefits for their health and quality of life.
It does make sense. Previous research has shown that music is one of the few activities that stimulates the whole brain and encourages the growth of new brain cells – key to helping people who have suffered strokes or dementia and keeping people healthy as they age.
Of course, residents should have a lot of fun along the way too – we will wait to hear the results.
