14 November 2022
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Music and movement project extends to all Balhousie care homes as residents reap wellbeing benefits
Hundreds of care home residents across Scotland are set to benefit from a popular programme that has proved the benefits of music and movement to older people.
The award-winning Balhousie Care Group, recently named Business of the Year, is extending the programme to its 26 care homes following a successful pilot study in 10 homes.
Balhousie Care Group began working with online music and movement provider danceSing Care earlier this year as part of a study with the University of Stirling into how to improve healthy ageing.
The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Stirling’s Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, followed 47 Balhousie Care Group residents over 12 weeks and tracked improvements in their mental, emotional and physical wellbeing.
“The changes to our residents’ wellbeing was notable. They looked forward to these online sessions, it bonded them as residents and it brought them closer to staff too. We are so impressed with the impact that we decided to extend this to all of our homes, starting immediately,” said Karen Johnson, Quality Director at Balhousie Care Group.
One of the homes that took part was Balhousie Coupar Angus in Perthshire, where Activities Coordinator Patrycja Dwojak led the sessions. Patrycja said: “The sessions are about more than standing and sitting exercises. The music and the bespoke radio shows and concerts spark memories for our residents. That means they enjoy both physical and mental health benefits, which makes this programme so valuable.”
Morag Shea, Home Manager at Balhousie Coupar Angus, said: “The danceSing Care sessions have become quite the event for us. We make a space in one of the lounges and the number of participants has been growing. With all the activity, excitement and music, the feelgood effect extends to other residents and staff. I’m delighted that this will keep going and extend to other care homes in the group.”
Natalie Garry from danceSing Care said: “It has been an absolute pleasure to work with the Balhousie team and we are thrilled to be rolling out danceSing Care group-wide to improve wellbeing through music and movement, following positive resource evaluation in partnership with Stirling University. At a time when the sector is facing unprecedented challenges, the resilience and positive attitudes of everyone involved has been simply phenomenal. It means we are teaming up for better results, sharing learning, and are without a doubt stronger together through partnership and collaboration to enrich the lives of staff, residents, and their families.”
Professor Anna Whittaker of the University of Stirling’s Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, who led the research, said: “The pilot study had some extremely promising results, showing the positive impact that music and movement can have on care home residents and staff. We’re pleased to see this programme extended and hope it encourages other care home operators across the country to implement this type of initiative.
Professor Whittaker added: “In the next stage of the research, we will be working with selected Balhousie care homes to conduct a pilot randomised controlled trial which will also assess elements of physical function and biomarkers of stress.”
For more information on Balhousie Care Group visit www.balhousiecare.co.uk
For more information on the University of Stirling study visit A realist evaluation of the feasibility of a digital music and movement intervention for older people living in care homes | Research Square
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For Balhousie Care Group media enquiries please contact Gillian Drummond on gillian.drummond@balhousiecare.co.uk or call 01738 254254/07365 284994.
For danceSing media enquiries please contact Natalie Garry on natalie@dance-sing.uk or 07712 862 823.
More photos and videos here: https://io100276128-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/gillian_drummond_balhousiecare_co_uk/EnCc523xKMVPsxEGcgQrgAABZ9Gu0qRkw3YJPo66IfIDnA?e=b0qFfs
YouTube link: https://youtu.be/Nt5dtJep6qw
Photo and video captions: Residents and staff from Balhousie Coupar Angus care home in Perthshire try out music and movement exercises with (in blue T-shirt) Natalie Garry from danceSing Care and (in purple shirt) Patrycja Dwojak, Activities Coordinator at Balhousie Coupar Angus.
Notes to Editors
About Balhousie Care Group
Balhousie Care Group was formed 30 years ago to fill a gap in quality residential care in North East Scotland. Today, with 26 homes in the area, it is one of the leading providers of care for the elderly in Scotland, providing care to almost 1000 residents.
Owned by AcalisCare, Balhousie Care prides itself on its person-centred approach to care. Putting people right at the forefront of everything they do; it’s inclusive of everyone. They capture this philosophy through the roll out of ‘Together We’re Great’, an initiative which recognises the skills, talents, attributes and support areas for each and every person involved in the organisation. Together We’re Great aims to value individuality and promote excellence across the organisation.
A Participation Charter – a first-of-its-kind in the care home sector – commits to residents getting a bigger say than ever in the care they receive, from writing care home policies to recruiting staff.
Balhousie Care Group is the recipient of numerous awards. These include three Scottish Care Awards, three 2022 Courier Business Awards including Business of the Year, a 2022 s1Jobs Shine Award and a 2021 Great British Care Award.
About danceSing
danceSing is home to the Choir that Keeps you Fit, a vibrant singing and dance fitness community. Fusing the arts and fitness, danceSing offers a range of services Online, On Demand and In-Person including singing, dance fitness, yoga, barre, ballet and Pilates sessions, whilst promoting mental, physical, and social wellbeing.
danceSing Care is the company’s newest offering and has been created exclusively for the care community in consultation with leading NHS Health Care professionals. It is a unique wellbeing programme, which brings the magic of music and movement into care homes and other care settings across the UK.
danceSing Care aims to maximise emotional, physical, creative, intellectual, and spiritual stimulation through the medium of music and singing, as well as movement and fitness, underpinned by strong community support and engagement, and importantly fun.
Dr Joanna Marshall, Clinical Psychologist at Durham, and Darlington Care Home Liaison TEWV NHS Foundation Trust said: “The danceSing Care resources are a lovely way of supporting care home staff to meet their residents’ need for meaningful engagement, social interaction, physical exercise and fun, improving wellbeing during the pandemic and beyond.”
Balhousie Coupar Angus resident Robert Wilson with the care home’s Activities Coordinator Patrycja Dwojak.
