Tuneful afternoon is music to the ears of West Drayton residents

Home news

Apr 25, 2019

A care home in West Drayton has set the tone and used music as an innovative way to improve the lives of older people.

Residents at Franklin House, as well as residents from neighbouring care home The Burroughs, were treated to a special performance from the Royal Albert Hall musicians. 

The Royal Albert Hall’s Songbook is an interactive concert designed for older people throughout London. The performance takes residents on a reminiscent journey through the Hall’s back catalogue of performances, from Vera Lynn to The Beatles and Frank Sinatra.

Mathew V Mathew, home manager at Franklin House, said: “Music can have many therapeutic benefits for older people, especially those living with dementia, by offering them a way to communicate and express themselves, while also triggering happy memories from their younger years. 

“The Songbook performance has proved to be a real success, and it was fantastic to see the smiles on residents’ faces when they heard iconic songs from their youth. We’d like to say a big thank you to the Royal Albert Hall for a fantastic afternoon of music and nostalgia.”

Bozena Szczepaniak, home manager at The Burroughs, added: “We were delighted to join our Franklin House neighbours to spend the afternoon enjoying music from the generations. 

“The performance was a real conversation starter, and it was wonderful to hear so many stories from the residents’ memories of iconic musicians. We look forward to continuing to implement music therapy at the home.”