“It’s such a happy morning. Everyone has such a wonderful time,” says Nicole Shandler, reflecting on the weekly Music in the Living Room program for seniors offered at Hollyburn House by Revera.
According to the West Vancouver retirement residence’s lifestyle consultant, the initiative, a weekly Wednesday sing-along led by local musicians that brings Hollyburn House residents and members of the community at large together, has been offered in partnership with the District of West Vancouver’s Keeping Connected program since January 2013.
Keeping Connected offers 18 specialized classes per week, led by trained staff members, to local seniors who need additional support to enjoy the benefits of daily leisure and an active social network, says Joni Vajda, seniors outreach co-ordinator at the District of West Vancouver. Typically participants have experienced some form of loss, including cognition, mobility or a spouse, and are feeling isolated in their homes. Classes are focused on mental and cognitive stimulation, exercise, functional mobility, fall prevention and social engagement and include social clubs, chair exercise, a lecture series and walking groups.
Vajda, who oversees the program, says they have 500 visits per week. To ensure program access, transportation is offered, as well as one-on-one volunteer support, reminder phone calls and staff will also connect with participants’ children as required.
“We hold their hand, we get them back on track,” she says.
“It’s not care, it’s support for our seniors so they can regain confidence. It’s really lovely,” she adds.
There is a small fee for participation, but the program is subsidized thanks to a number of community partnerships.
By far the most popular Keeping Connected class is Music in the Living Room, which was launched by Vajda and Shandler.
“She had been dreaming a little bit about a music program but didn’t have a space for it and I did so that’s how it all got started,” says Shandler.
Vajda says her inspiration was the result of a conversation with a woman at the West Vancouver Seniors’ Activity Centre, which has a number of musical ensembles that regularly work on and perform some very sophisticated music.
“One of the wives of one of our fellas came to me and said, ‘My husband can’t keep up with the music anymore.’ With that I just thought, ‘Well everybody’s got to have music in their lives,’” she says.
Wanting the program to be offered in a cosy, warm space as opposed to a plain room, she felt Hollyburn’s facilities would be the perfect fit.
The year-round Music in the Living Room program sees between 35 and 50 participants each week, a mix of Hollyburn residents and Keeping Connected program participants. Sessions are led by members of the local music community, who come in and lead those in attendance in the sing-along, which lasts for an hour and a half or more. Refreshments are provided.
Shandler says the sessions offer attendees an opportunity to sing songs from their past, helping reconnect them with happiness and wonderful memories.
“Heck, my office is right next door to it and I find it has me reconnecting with the songs my grandfather used to sing to me. It’s a wonderful program. Family comes often to join the participants as well. It’s a wonderful bonding experience for everyone. They’re having fun. There’s one lady who comes dancing in, she brings a silly T-shirt that makes her look like she’s wearing a bikini and she dances in the middle. They have so much fun. It’s a great program,” she says.
Community members interested in joining Music in the Living Room and other Keeping Connected programs are encouraged to contact Vajda at 604-925-7211, who will schedule a meeting to determine what classes will best serve them.
“Typically when someone comes to see me, I will find where they’re going to fit in, so if there’s cognitive losses or if there’s physical losses that will determine what would be a good choice of a program for them,” she says.
Music in the Living Room is one she typically recommends due to its inclusive nature. “If they like music, anybody can go to this program. We have a really wide range of capacity at the program from people with mid-stage Alzheimer’s right through to people with no problems and they just like to sing,” she says.
