HEART FOR MUSIC
Improving the well-being of seniors with the gift of music to not-for-profit care homes across Canada.
Mission
Our mission is to improve the quality of life, health, and wellness of senior residents and care home staff in British Columbia through the power of music.
We empower people and communities by incorporating music into their daily lives.
Why music?
Simply put, music heals.
Music is a powerful tool that helps bring happiness and comfort to seniors who are lonely and isolated as well as those living with dementia.
It helps relieve stress and reduce anxiety, agitation, and depression.
Music is meaningful and can awaken memories and ignite joy while encouraging a sense of belonging, identity, and creative expression.
Music is integral to sound health, happiness, and connection.
Vision
Our vision is to use music to provide compassionate care for seniors and their caregivers to improve their health, wellness, and quality of life and bring joy and laughter into their world.
"When he was listening to music, it brought life back into my father's eyes.
He became alert to his surroundings, and the spark in him returned."
Rick Diamond
The Heart for Music program was inspired by our founder's 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. Music brings healing, hope, and happiness.
And this is also what we endeavor to bring to Canadian seniors and hardworking care home staff.
IMPACT
Live Music Events
29
Total Care Facilities
119
Total Hours Listening
100,000+
WAYS WE HELP
Meaningful music experiences
Headphones
Devices
Implementation
Customized Playlists
No two playlists are the same!
We work with care staff to set up personal playlists for residents with music that is meaningful to them.
Staff and families join together to provide each senior with their favorite music. Once the Playlist is designed, it is a tangible way for families, staff, and volunteers to bring smiles and contentment to the people they love and care for.
Heart for Music also curates group playlists that everyone can enjoy! These playlists include multiple languages, interests, and genres.
"I didn’t believe I could be healed by music, the music made me forget about my pain. I am crying from the enjoyment, many songs I have not heard in many years.”
“The results were spectacular. I met with each resident halfway through their allotted time, to check in with them. Every resident was smiling, tapping their foot, or dancing. Care staff began approaching me and telling me how wonderful this is for the residents, and how happy they were to see the residents enjoying themselves.”
“ An elder mentioned that she has not listened to music since she has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. She started crying and mentioned that the music reminds her of when she was 16 years old.”
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LIVE MUSIC EVENTS
One, Two, One, Two
Our live music events are intimate and fun.
Watching a live performance stimulates your senses in ways a recorded performance cannot.
A study published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease looked specifically at older adults, and found that listening to music can have all kinds of benefits, ranging from reduction in stress to better-quality sleep and a more positive mood.
