The Edelweiss Choir; Letting Residents Bloom
The Alzheimer’s Society reports there more than 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK today.* At Rubislaw Park Care Home, our team continues to undergo extensive training in all elements of dementia to understand the progressive neurological disorders that affects the brain. As a result, our team are able to provide expert medical care in a safe, caring, and welcoming setting.
Equally important as medical care, our dedicated team provide personal and social care to support and provide comfort and positive engagement for all residents with dementia. Working with Activity Coordinators we proudly offer a variety of activities and alternative therapies to find activities that are appropriate for the specific support needs of all residents living with Dementia.
Bloom and grow with The Edelweiss Choir
One of the most popular activities is our weekly choir group. Meeting every Tuesday, the Edelweiss Choir, set up by Susan Gray, Dementia Unit Team Leader, gives residents the perfect opportunity to meet, in a COVID-19 friendly environment and spent time singing together.
Recently featured in The Scotman the choir is quickly becoming recognised as a great success here at Rubislaw Park Care Home.
Ageuk.org.uk states that “the power of music, especially singing, to unlock memories and kickstart the grey matter is an increasingly key feature of dementia care. It seems to reach parts of the damaged brain in ways other forms of communication cannot.” Susan has found that this weekly group not only brings joy to each resident, but has proven successful for their overall well-being too.
Following each choir session, residents have the opportunity to socially interact with one another as they are offered “afternoon tea and a glass of fizz if the residents wish to partake… It’s very popular. In these times when there are still restrictions and people are living within their bubbles, it is such a good avenue.” says our wonderful Care Home Manager Gayle Bain.
Unlocking Memories
For people with dementia, music can help the person to express feelings and connect with past memories, which may be easier to recall. Many of the Dementia residents at Rubislaw Park Care Home have very limited speech and memory issues, but Susan quickly noticed that when watching the TV, the residents were singing along. Susan says, “We’ve got one lady who has had a severe stroke and has very limited speech, yet she can sing beautifully. Another was a very keen pianist in her younger days, and accompanies the choir in every song.”
Naming the Choir
Susan explains, “The residents all love their musicals, and had a vote on the choir name. They picked Edelweiss, from The Sound of Music, which is their favourite, as the flower represents resilience, courage and bravery, which they thought was very fitting for the pandemic.”
Dementia Care at Rubislaw Park Care Home
Rubislaw Park has proudly been awared a top 20 carehome.co.uk award for three years in a row, and in 2020 was the only Aberdeen home to make the list – testament to the fantastic care and facilities that we offer.
To help the person with dementia maintain their independence and to support them to have a good quality of life, it’s important to make their home as easy to manage as possible.* Our specialist facilities are designed to promote independence, while also providing our residents with a safe, stimulating, and relaxing atmosphere. Due to our expert knowledge and experience of our residents, we can provide second-to-none care for our residents with memory loss.
If you’re looking for a nursing home for you or a loved one, Rubislaw Park Care Home offers unrivalled levels of care; do not hesitate to get in touch to find out more, book a tour or meet our wonderful team.
