Health Care Hoolies is a summer concert series in nursing homes & community hospitals in Cork County

Description

During COVID Cork County Council supported musicians to perform outdoors in health care settings. This provided much needed engagement for residents and staff, and it also gave work opportunities to musicians. We have seen several instances of people with advanced dementia recalling the words to songs they learned decades ago. It is also an opportunity for people to connect with each other through music. Some of the bands / acts also include people aged over-55, it is important for us to support artists as they age also. This Summer the programme will include 16 Community hospitals and nursing homes across the county. The music acts include The Cork Pops Orchestra, Down Memory Lane, The Lounge Brothers and The Hifilutin’ flute Quartet. The acts all play a range of popular music from the 1950s onwards, songs from musicals and films and also so popular classic pieces. We work in partnership with the HSE to connect with the health care settings. The day of a concert is extremely exciting for residents, their families and staff. Some people sing along, dance, clap or simply listen. It is also a really exciting time for the music acts, many of whom are surprised at the level of engagement, the lovely welcomes and thanks they receive. Unfortunately sometimes it is easy to forget about people living in health care settings, whether they are there long term, short term or for respite. Although the settings take excellent care of everyone, accessing culture and creativity, which is a human right, can come secondary to primary needs. There are lots of volunteers that play music in health care settings but we feel that adding professional musicians and paying them well enforces the respect we have for our elders in the community, and that they are very much part of the community.

Aim of Initiative

To include older people in healthcare settings in culture and creativity through music concerts

Who is it aimed at

Older people in healthcare settings, their families and staff.

3 Steps critical to success

1. HSE arts promotion officer connecting us with healthcare settings and endorsing the project
2. The high quality musicians we have in the county
3. The participation of the residents and their willingness to try something different

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. Finance & rising travel costs
2. Adhering to infection control measures in healthcare settings
3. .

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. Health care settings being an important venues for musicians to perform in, with equitable conditions and remuneration
2. Participants accessing their human right to have access to and take part in culture
3. Connecting and communicating with people who may have cognitive issues through music