Therapy assistant takes initiative to create own resource

When therapy assistant Debbie Davison found herself increasingly frustrated with the lack of quality resources to use in her aged care music programme, she decided to create her own.

With the help of her audio engineer son, Leigh, Debbie produced an original music DVD to use in her weekly sing-along sessions at the 160-bed aged care facility where she works.

‘Memory Lane Therapy – Sing-Along for Seniors’ is a compilation of old-time favourites, including ‘(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window’ by Patti Page and ‘That’s Amore’ by Dean Martin. The songs are set to captivating movies and roving images, with words displaying the lyrics to sing along to.

When Debbie first introduced the DVD at work, the reception from the residents was overwhelmingly encouraging.

“They were standing up and applauding,” Debbie says.

Debbie has been working at Bethanie Beachside for over seven years and has always strived to make music a part of what she does.

“I come from a musical background,” she says.

“I was a singer and used to play in a couple of bands, so music is my forte in the therapy team.”

At the moment, she conducts sing-alongs for a large crowd every Tuesday, attracting around 50 of the 160 residents. She also runs a smaller group in the dementia-specific ward, playing the DVD in their secure lounge, where residents are encoruaged to get up and dance.

To mix up it up, a volunteer, Maxine, provides alternative instrumental with her piano playing, while Debbie herself sometimes whips out the ukulele.

“Music puts everyone in a good mood,” Debbie says.

“The residents with dementia love it. They haven’t forgotten how to sing.”

After proving such a hit, the self-made DVD is now being made externally available for use in the home or residential aged care setting Australia-wide.

For more information visit Memory Lane Therapy. 

Image: Music and laughter. Debbie Davison with a client. CONTRIBUTED.