Message in a Bottle – Live Music Events in Retirement Homes in Kilkenny

Description

Message in a Bottle: A Harmonious Celebration of Community, Culture, and Connection for Older Audiences

This innovative project, “Message in a Bottle,” brought vibrant energy and joy to retirement homes by engaging residents through songs from their heritage. The project brought performances featuring a trio of exceptional artists—a pianist, a cellist or violinist, and a renowned soloist. Their combined talents brought the music to life, creating an immersive and emotionally rich experience. The soloists were Mary Coughlan, Niamh Kavanagh, Sandra Oman, John Spillane, Anthony Kearns, Simon Morgan, Prof Luke O’Neill, Sibeal, Celine Byrne. String Virtuosos: Gerald Peregrine (cello) and Lynda O’Connor (violin). Accompanists: Vincent Lynch (piano), Dermot Dunne (accordion).

To provide a high-quality experience, Kilkenny County Council enlisted artists with proven track records in the field. These artists collaborated flexibly and responsively to meet participant needs, promoting genuine agency and input. The project not only brought joy and entertainment but also fostered cognitive engagement and memory improvement through music. It was a harmonious celebration creating a symphony of community, culture, and connection.

These regular music sessions provided a sense of purpose and routine, with healthcare staff noting the musicians’ familiarity with residents as key to overcoming challenges and ensuring effective sessions.

The sustained engagement and relationship-building between residents and musicians reflected a people-centred approach. The Live Music in Nursing Homes Scheme prioritised residents’ voices and stories, empowering them to share their experiences and participate in the creative process, which is vital for their emotional health through self-expression.

The project’s accessibility ensured inclusivity for everyone at each venue, inviting staff, residents, and family members to participate. Family members were thrilled to see their loved ones singing and recalling memories, which strengthened community bonds and created joyful experiences.

The project brought performers and culturally relevant content to the participants. The initiative adopted a person-centred approach, ensuring inclusivity for residents of all abilities, including those with dementia. The programme fostered positive ageing by celebrating residents’ heritage through local music and cultural elements. The events were intergenerational with family members and staff also participating. The initiative’s flexibility allowed for personalised experiences, meeting residents where they are, and encouraging participation. This approach has shown significant positive impacts on residents’ wellbeing and community connections.

Family members observed significant improvements in their loved ones’ mood and engagement. These shared experiences strengthened family bonds and created joyful moments that were deeply cherished. The project fostered a sense of connection and provided a comforting routine, which is particularly beneficial for those living with dementia.
Overall, the initiative highlighted the therapeutic power of music in enhancing cognitive function, emotional wellbeing, and social interaction for dementia patients, while also offering families a precious opportunity to connect and communicate in a meaningful way.
The Kilkenny Age Friendly Programme and Creative Communities Engagement Office established strong relationships with care and health professionals in residential centres, ensuring that those dependent on care could access performances and events. This collaboration facilitated meaningful participation by engaging older people as both producers and consumers.

Aim of Initiative

The aim or underpinning goal was to bring vibrant energy and joy to these communities by engaging residents through cherished songs from their heritage. By focusing on health and wellbeing, the programme sought to create an accessible and delightful experience for older audiences, fostering meaningful conversations and shared memories. The involvement of key partners ensured that the initiative was inclusive and impactful, optimising opportunities for good health and active participation in community life. The initiative aimed to increase social participation by expanding access to and participation in social, cultural and recreational activities. Family members were encouraged to attend bringing an intergenerational focus to the projects. The events were captured to preserve these living memories and allowed participants relive the connections long after the performances ended.

Who is it aimed at

This project was specifically aimed at older adults residing in retirement homes, their families and staff.

3 Steps critical to success

1. Engage with Residents and Staff: Conducted engagement thorough consultations with both residents and staff to understand their preferences, needs, and expectations. This included surveys, focus groups, and one-on-one interviews to gather detailed insights.
   Identify Specific Requirements: Determined any specific logistical, accessibility, or health-related requirements that need to be addressed to ensure the events were inclusive and enjoyable for all participants.
   Tailor the Programme: Utilised the information gathered to tailor the music programme to the unique cultural, social, and emotional needs of each retirement home, ensuring it resonated with the residents.
2. Collaborative Planning and Coordination:
   Involve Key Stakeholders: Collaborated with key stakeholders, including retirement home management, healthcare professionals, and family members, to plan and coordinate the events. Their input was crucial for aligning the programme with the centre’s routines and care plans.
   Flexible Scheduling: Developed a flexible schedule that accommodates the daily routines and peak activity times of the residents, ensuring maximum participation and minimal disruption, responding to issues such as closures and adapted the timeline of the programme to suit.
   Resource Allocation: Secured and allocate necessary resources, such as musical instruments, sound equipment, and transportation for performers, to ensure smooth execution of the events.
3. Continuous Feedback and Improvement:
   Monitor and Evaluate: Implemented a system for continuous monitoring and evaluation of the events. Collected feedback from residents, staff, and performers after each session to assess the impact and identify areas for improvement.
   Adapt and Enhance: Used the feedback to make real-time adjustments to the programme, enhancing the experience based on the evolving needs and preferences of the residents.
   Report Outcomes: Collaborated with Creative Ireland Evaluation process with an external agency to add to Kilkenny County Council’s own documentation and reporting of the outcomes and successes of the events to stakeholders and funding bodies, highlighting the positive impacts on residents’ wellbeing and community engagement. The feedback was informative and highlighted:
   • The level of need and interest
   • Ideas for future events such as enlisting local artists which could include day trips and story telling

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. Ongoing Scheduling and Geographical Spread:
   Coordinating live music events across multiple retirement homes in different geographical locations can be logistically complex. Ensuring that each venue receives equal attention and that schedules align with the daily routines of residents requires meticulous planning.

   Impact: This challenge can lead to potential delays or conflicts in scheduling, making it difficult to maintain a consistent and reliable programme for all participants.

2. Availability of Artists and Centres:
   Challenge: Securing the availability of high-quality artists who can travel to various locations and perform regularly is a significant hurdle. Additionally, coordinating with retirement homes to find suitable times and spaces for performances can be challenging, especially when centres have varying capacities and health protocols.

   Impact: Limited availability of artists and suitable venues can restrict the frequency and reach of the programme, potentially leaving some residents without access to these enriching experiences.

3. Health Scope and Capacity:
   Challenge: Addressing the diverse health needs of residents, particularly when the demand for such programmes are high, requires careful consideration. Ensuring that the programme is inclusive and accessible to all residents, including those with significant health challenges is essential.

   Impact: High demand and varying health needs can strain resources and limit the programme’s ability to cater to everyone effectively, potentially leading to unequal participation and benefits.

   These challenges highlight the importance of continued support and funding to overcome logistical, resource, and health-related obstacles, ensuring that all residents can enjoy the benefits of live music events.

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. Enhanced Health and Quality of Life encompassing holistic health improvements, support for positive ageing, and overall wellbeing.
   Total of 880 residents and family members participated in over 20 live events held in 5 providers in the Kilkenny district.
   There was 16 Artists employed and 20 concerts were held across Kilkenny in 5 different venues.
   Many participants had never attended a concert before, making this experience particularly special. The events were accessible, allowing extended family members to join, which enriched the experience for everyone involved. The project had a significant impact on both staff and residents, fostering a sense of community and connection.
2. Cognitive Stimulation and Memory Activation, and reminiscence, helping to keep minds active and engaged. The project provided a unique opportunity for older people to improve their memory through song.
3. Strengthened Local Connections and Engagement: This includes active participant involvement, expanded engagement opportunities, and connection to local heritage and fostering a sense of community and belonging.