Working with Older People

For forty five years, Live Music Now has worked alongside those with reduced access to live music, in care homes, schools, hospitals, hospices and community settings across the UK. However, one area where access to music can be absent is in elderly care. Among older people living with cognitive decline, isolation and loneliness, the feelings of happiness, safety and togetherness that music brings about can be invaluable. Live Music Now provides for older people: participatory concerts (bringing the concerts to the care homes and performers interact directly with residents, using conversation, call-and-response and singalongs; the residents are invited to ask questions, play percussion and clap along with the music); music residencies (over the course of 8-12 live music sessions with accompanying workforce development, the performers work with a core team of residents and care team members to nurture and build their musical care skills and confidence, encouraging a lasting legacy of more regular music among participants and carers).