Music therapy for seniors
Tribune (Welland)
Wed 16 Nov 2005
Page: 16
Section: InPort
Byline: Shelah Brooks
Dateline: PORT COLBORNE
Source: InPort
PORT COLBORNE - They say that music soothes the soul and is the universal language.
Rebecca Cole has found a way to take that language and use it to help those in long-term care facilities.
"I go around to the different long-term care facilities in Niagara and I run musical enrichment sessions," said Cole, owner of Sound Medicine.
Cole's sessions include different types of programs, such as music and relaxation.
"That's where we put on some relaxing music and we do some movements such as stretching, reaching and more," she said. "There's also music and reminiscence where I try to bring in music from television shows or things that would be familiar to their generation."
Cole said the next step in that program is to play a trivia game where she'll throw out names of actors or characters and see if the residents can figure out which show the song is from.
Another program she uses is music and emotions where each of the residents get to hold onto ribbons or bright coloured shakers.
"Something that really enhances their movement so it creates a visual effect. For the people that can't participate physically, they can participate by watching," Cole said. "So with their items, I'd say, 'how would you move this if you were feeling happy?' which is usually like a rainbow. Then I'd say, 'how would you move this if you were feeling sad?' and that's usually like an elephant trunk."
From there, Cole will play music on either the piano or the guitar that creates those moods and she'll ask the residents to move their item to the music.
"And we'll talk about feelings and we'll talk about things that make them happy, things that make them sad," Cole said.
In all, Cole said she tries to come up with programs where she can use music as a tool to reach a goal with the residents.
Cole's professional background is social work and personal support work. She's also had mental health training. At one time she was a nursing assistant, but lost her job due to a car accident.
"So I decided I wasn't going to sit around and do nothing," she said. "I'm going to use all the things that I like and put it to use. I've always played guitar and I've always played piano. I write my own music and I like working with seniors. So I put it all together and I came up with Sound Medicine."
According to Cole, the residents enjoy the program and being able to listen and enjoy the music. She recently took two months off from work to give birth to her twins, Jesse and Jason, and she got a phone call at home asking if there was someone who could take her place until she got back.
"That was kind of nice because sometimes you wonder if the residents really know and understand what's going on when I'm here, but they do," she said.
Cole, 29, is now back on the job working evenings and weekends when her husband, Tom Zimmer, can be home to take care of the twins.
The couple also has a daughter, Kierryn, five.
|
|
