Making Music Accessible for Seniors
The Heart for Music program was inspired by our founders' personal journey with his late father's dementia.
Listening to music is an enlivening and meaningful experience. It can unlock cherished memories and bring feelings of joy and calm. The 2014 Audience Award-winning Sundance film, Alive Inside, tells the story of patients in care homes who struggle with impaired neurological function, such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, and how music improved their quality of life.
Thousands of older adults in BC and throughout Canada are marginalized and isolated, leaving hard-working staff to bear the responsibility and sometimes the financial burden to provide them with life-changing therapies and care. Many not-for-profit Care Homes rely on funding from their communities in order to provide care for their residents. That is where Heart for Music steps in, helping elders in local care homes by supporting their music accounts, providing individual seniors with personal headsets, speakers, and music-playing tablets
“When we run this program it is so wonderful to see the resident's light up, toes tapping, singing , clapping to the beat, laughter and smiles.”
Covenant Care Villa Marie
Customized Playlists
Music from one's past can reach past the boundaries of the brain. Staff and families work together to provide each senior with personal playlists full of music that is meaningful to them. Once set up, the Heart for Music Program is a tangible way for families, staff and volunteers to bring smiles and contentment to their loved ones and residents.
Heart for Music has created many group listening playlists which can be enjoyed by all. These playlists include multiple languages, interests, and genres.
Program Donation Breakdown
Making music accessible
Music Equipment
Tablets, headphones, speakers, percussion instruments, and more.
Live Music Events
Laughter, dancing and singing, focused in the Lower Mainland, BC.
Customized Playlists
Staff support to set up music accounts and playlists unique to each individual.
“The program has been incredible! Communication with the organization has been clear and seamless. It's great to have the devices and supported programs on hand to grab when a resident requires it. We've also made the tablets accessible to all staff, so they can use the tablets even when recreation staff are not present (i.e. in the evenings to help with sundowning/behaviours) and this has been especially helpful.”