A Choir in Every Care Home - project findings and report

A Choir in Every Care Home - findings announced ‘A Choir in Every Care Home’ is a unique collaboration between 33 leading national organisations from adult social care, music and academic research. The evaluation included detailed surveys of over 400 care home staff and musicians, in-depth case studies, and the largest review of the academic literature ever, carried out by the Sidney De Haan Research Centre at Canterbury Christchurch University. Of the research, Professor Stephen Clift concluded: “singing can be beneficial for psychological and social wellbeing, and that it may be helpful in helping people to manage a wide range of health issues, including mental health challenges and physical health problems associated with chronic respiratory illness and Parkinson’s. It is clear also that singing activity can positively engage people across a spectrum of severity with dementia.”

The 10 main findings from the project are set out in full on the project website - https://achoirineverycarehome.wordpress.com/?mc_cid=9137b1d66f&mc_eid=87072c426b - and there are also resources and toolkits to help both care homes and musicians.
(Source AD:UK eZine)