Glasgow care home worker who played at Glastonbury helps residents recall memories with music
A Glasgow care home worker - who was a musical hit having played Glastonbury and T in the Park - is using his talents to bring music therapy to residents at a local care home.
On National Playlist Day (September 20), David Addison invited the residents of Oakview Care Home in Pollokshields to recall their favourite tracks which he then played for them in an intimate concert for the residents.
The requested songs were a varied mix and included Dolly Parton’s ‘9 to 5', Abba’s ‘Dancing Queen’ and Doris Day’s ‘Que Sera, Sera’ as well as ‘You are My Sunshine’.
David Addison, wellbeing enabler at Oakview Manor said: "I’ve always had a passion for music in my personal life but when I started this role and saw the profound affect it has on elderly people and those with barriers to communication, I was quite astounded.
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"Now, music is one of the most powerful tools I have at my disposal. From settling residents into the care home and getting to know them better, to developing rich and meaningful relationships, it really helps to facilitate all of that.
"National Playlist Day is a great cause and is one that we wholeheartedly got behind here at Oakview Manor. We rounded up the residents for a concert of their favourite songs - there was definitely some unique suggestions in there as well as the real crowd pleasers. We had people singing along, tapping their feet and we even managed to get some of our residents to join in the music with some maracas."
In addition to the Oakview Manor concert on National Playlist Day the care homes from across the Oakminster Healthcare Group encouraged residents and their families to recall their ‘Soundtrack of Your Life’ curating a personalised playlist of wedding songs, first dance tracks, childhood memory songs and night-out music.
Netta Turnbull, 93, resident at Oakview Manor said: “Music plays such a big part in your life as you get older and it’s a great way to recall memories and good times.
“We all have songs that bring back happy memories, music is special and genuinely does provide a soundtrack to those big moments - and the small moments - in your life.”
Fellow resident and former musician Albert Higgins, 91, commented: “Getting a chance to put together our songs and play them throughout the day is very nostalgic. I was a musician myself so music has always been very important to me.
“It can make people happy and relaxed, and sometimes emotional, we’re all sharing memories and reminiscing about moments in our lives. It’s been lovely doing this in the home today.”
Albert’s music choice for the day was Don’t Blame Me by Charlie Parker as he was his favourite musician and an inspiration to him, while Netta’s song was The Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond, taking her back to her childhood when she would sing the song as a young girl.
The five care homes that form Oakminster Healthcare’s portfolio of residential and nursing homes have partnered with Playlist for Life, a national charity that promotes the use of meaningful music to support people living with dementia.
National Playlist Day is led by the charity founded by Sally Magnusson, Playlist for Life which seeks to celebrate the power of personally meaningful music for people living with dementia.
This year’s theme is The Soundtrack of Your Life and encourages people to curate a soundtrack of meaningful songs that can be played back to those living with dementia to support wellbeing.
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Sunita Poddar, chief executive officer and founder of Oakminster Healthcare said: “Our teams are always looking at different ways to support the residents in our homes and we know the important role that music plays in dementia care and for the general wellbeing of residents.
“We’re thrilled to be taking part in the Playlist for Life, National Playlist Day and have already been seeing the benefits of exploring music and memories through the process of curating the playlist in each of our homes.”
Michael Timmons, Executive Director at Playlist for Life, said: “It’s great to see the residents and staff at Oakmister get involved in National Playlist Day and think about the music that makes up the soundtrack of their life.
“Meaningful music can help people living with dementia to live well. It’s a simple concept that can have a profound effect on a person's physical, emotional, and social wellbeing. Music holds incredible power that can reach parts of the brain that have been damaged and has been proven to reduce some of the most distressing symptoms of dementia. National Playlist Day is an opportunity to celebrate the power of meaningful music and think about the tracks that have soundtracked our lives.”
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