SENIORS had a front row seat at musical performances offered as a form of therapy.
As part of the Amana Living Arts Festival, which is being held at more than 50 locations across WA, elderly people at Kinross Care Centre were treated to their own concert performed by a harpist.
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READ NOWAmana Living manager enrichment and volunteer services Emily Lees said providing arts experiences was integral to enriching the lives of residents.
“Harp therapy is relatively new to Australia and we wanted to try a different type of therapeutic music as part of the festival,” she said.
“It’s a beautiful instrument and the music provides such comfort.
“The responses have varied but our residents have told us they feel calm and relaxed after listening to the harpist perform, with some even going to sleep.
“For others, it’s helped to bring back wonderful memories like a harpist performing at their wedding.”
Ms Lees said the festival was inclusive and the harp performances offered a way for people who were bed-bound to participate.
“The health and wellbeing benefits of participating in the arts are far-ranging,” she said.
“For people living with dementia, participating in the arts can help them feel more calm and less stressed, as well as improve communication and their relationship with their loved ones.”
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