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Sierra Arts' Elder Care Concert Series

Jill Berryman, Sierra Arts Executive Director, on the Elder Care Concert Series—

Sierra Arts Foundation (SAF) offers the Elder Care Concert Series, a series of free concerts to a broad cross-section of assisted living facilities, long-term care facilities, other senior living settings and community-based senior day care facilities. Because SAF continually strives to reach under-served populations in our community, we recognize that our elder population in these types of living situations is growing with little access to the outside world. These residents do not have the means, or the health to attend events outside of their current facilities.

Currently eight facilities are being serviced, some of the locations served include the Odd Fellows Home, Manor Care, The Manor at Lakeside, The Arbors and Alterra Alzheimer’s. All concerts are performed by local musicians in classical, jazz, swing, big band and folk traditions.

The concerts are specially designed to reach many of the residents who are “unreachable,” by playing old favorites and song standards from the residents’ own generation, as well as original compositions by the many singer/songwriters who perform in the series. Many of the residents of these facilities, along with health and aging ailments, suffer from isolation. The community at large seems to be preoccupied by the busyness of living, which marginalizes this population segment that is unable to fend for itself. The Elder Care Concerts Series strives to ease some of the isolation suffered by the residents and present a forum for community among them. Research studies and anecdotal reports have verified the profound value of live performance, and studies in the field of gerontology and music therapy have shown that, among other physiologic outcomes, appropriate music can alleviate depression, reduce agitation, increase cognition and stimulate memory.

Before a health care facility can become a part of the Elder Care Concert Series, they must first attend a mandatory three-hour training session. These sessions are given several times a year. We have discovered during the past five years that the turnover rate for activity directors in these facilities is high. Susan Mazer and Dallas Smith of Healing Healthcare Systems, Inc., in conjunction with the SAF Program Director facilitate the trainings. The facilities are given tools to enhance the artistic experience that will take place, and to help the artists with residents who may tend to wander or interrupt without being disrespectful to the resident or the artist.

All musicians participating in Elder Care Concert Series go through a screening process to make sure that their style of music is appropriate for the residents and that they have acquired a professional reputation. New musicians are selected through a call for artists and review by a panel made up of Sierra Arts’ board members. This review requests that artists provide a sample of their music, as well as a written statement about their experience with the senior population and why they are interested in participating in the Elder Care Concert Series. After a musician or musical group has been selected, they too must go through an orientation process similar to the care facilities. This ensures that the musicians understand who the population is and to help prepare the musicians for some of the unusual things that might happen during a concert. Many of the seniors at these locations have Alzheimer’s Disease or other ailments that may affect the performance of some artists. If a musician then feels uncomfortable participating, we gladly excuse them from the program. It is our hope that the residents, musicians and care facility staff have a pleasant and rewarding experience.

The Elder Care Concerts Series is split into three scheduled series of concerts. We are currently serving eight (8) facilities. Each facility is offered one free, one hour concerts per month. Each concert is attended by approximately 30 to 60 residents, plus staff—family and friends of residents are encouraged to attend as well. The evaluations from the artists and the staff members from the facilities have been overwhelmingly positive.

Download a pdf of this narrative.

Download a pdf of the Elder Care Concert Series article from Sierra Arts Magazine.

 

Download a pdf of the Art and Healing article by Renown's Alexia Bratiotis from Sierra Arts Magazine.