Karaoke In Dementia Care

Karaoke In Dementia Care -

By Paul McCann

Music has a great part to play in dementia care and those who have the condition should be able to participate with that . Some of the choices available are Karaoke where residents can sing along with songs they remember in their past . Karaoke has proven to be a great activity for our old folk in nursing homes and equipment can be  hired or purchased to facilitate that need for residents in nursing homes .

Further to the karaoke session a memorable event could be created by having some fliers made presenting a theme or timeline to the karaoke such as The Swinging Twenties or The Fifties Rock And Roll Years . As well as this promotion of the event  staff and residents could dress up in the fashion of that day . 

Along with these ideas a prearranged décor change including pictures on the walls of that era along selected pieces of furniture such as art décor or

 even Queen Ann  or Georgian . In an attempt to recreate that period in history the residents could once more revisit   .’

Every era has a certain style of music which would have meant a lot to people who Back when things were different for them and they were living a life without dementia would e a wonderful experience for them once again to enjoy .’

Whatever era or theme songs from that time could be chosen from the karaoke machine for the residents and staff to sing along with . 

The activity would bring back everyone back to a generation when music was different and lyrics meant something special to them  .

Some other ideas for the event would involve food and families with favourite foods provided for the day .’

As an extra activity vintage cars could be hired or brought in for the residents who could take a trip down memory lane in a popular cars from that era .

The times are changing so fast for many of our old folk and if there is a chance to hold back time and go back and revisit for a while a time when life was slower and easier isn’t that where real caring should be at . In a sense aged care nursing homes need to change with the times so that their residents can rediscover themselves in nursing homes today . Sadly today people with dementia in nursing homes find themselves surrounded by strange people and strange things such as computers , mobile phones , furniture and other surroundings that they cannot relate to .

The fact is there is no cure for dementia but there are resources to make activities for daily living an easier process for those with the condition . 

Wouldn’t it be a wonderful thing to recreate that experience for them ?

There is a way to briefly bring back that experience when things were better for them  and the world was a colourful existence for them to enjoy ?