Nursing/Care homes

Had a look at the website. To "fit" seems you have to be a very very good amateur or even professional. You also have to attend an audition somewhere up North. Sorry, I'll just stick to local care homes, day centres, etc. Seems their needs for entertainment should come first anyway. Once in a care home, generally forgotten by the world except for their nearest and dearest, if anyone left that is ....

grannyactivist . I see your OP was in April, have you spotted these replies?

My children used to be quite disconcerted when visiting my Gran in her care home. So many of the residents would call out to them or try to give them sweets. Some were quite disinhibited. The children saw some sights in afraid! However, I suppose it was educational for them and we could discuss it later.
Pets used to visit and were a great attraction (except to Granny who didn't see the point!!)

I know this is also 'off piste', but when my Mum was in a residential home, my daughter visited and took her baby of 6/8 months. She, the baby, was a great hit with the residents, and we heard later, that one old chap, who hadn't spoken for ages, actually did talk afterwards. I have heard that if young children can visit, supervised, that both age groups benefit. But wouldn't know how to organise it , or even if it would be allowed.

There is an organisation called Music in Hospitals www.musicinhospitals.org.uk/ which provides volunteers who visit hospitals, care homes and so on to play live music and interact with the patients. There are all kinds of musicians, playing all kinds of music, from classical to jazz, folk, pop, show and old time. (they also welcome musical volunteers - and donations, and concerts to raise funds for them)

Their contact detail are -

England

Music in Hospitals
Case House
85-89 High Street
Walton-on-Thames
KT12 1DZ
Tel: 01932 260810
Fax: 01932 224123
[email protected]

England, North

Music in Hospitals
Royal Northern College of Music
124 Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9RD
Tel: 0161 907 5387
Fax: 0161 273 7611
[email protected]

Wales

Music in Hospitals
Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
Castle Grounds
Cathays Park
Cardiff
Tel: 02920 391415
[email protected]

Scotland

Music in Hospitals
10 Forth Street
Edinburgh
EH1 3LD
Tel: 0131 556 5848
Fax: 0131 556 0225
info@musicinhospitalsscotland.org.uk
www.musicinhospitalsscotland.org.uk
The Scottish operation is run separately from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands.

Off piste but-

As some of you know, mum has been hanging on for ages so we asked the vicar who visits the home to pop in to see her thinking it might help her to 'let go'. He walked in with a cheery 'good morning' whereupon she said 's*d off' and went to sleep'.

I think that will make you smile ga! I am sure that you will bring comfort to all the people you meet.

My problem is wondering what to do while mum is asleep. I don't feel I can leave her in case she wakes up but it feels disrespectful to read GN.

The accompanist to the choir I sing with goes into care homes to play for them every week. He is a gifted pianist who can play anything in any style with or without music. He says that the pleasure and joy in the music that he sees each time he goes is reward enough. He charges nothing.

When he was younger my dog was a Pets as Therapy (PAT) dog. We used to go into care/nursing homes and he would allow himself to be cuddled and fondled.

Allowed himself? He loved the fuss. And so did the old folk. The 'matron' chose suitable residents and we visited them in their rooms.

Not enough care homes invite in entertainers like myself even though freebies are offered. It is the service clients who lose out. Even in severe dementia cases, hearing an old tune, Elvis etc. often has a very positive effect. I've seen it many times over the last 2.5 years ...