Pam Mann, the nurse administrator at the Campbell River and District Adult Care Society adult day program, can’t say enough about beneficial music therapy has been to the society’s clients.
And she’s so grateful to Altrusa International of Campbell River for providing an annual donation to ensure music therapy is one of the services provided by the society.
“We’re so blessed that they sponsor our music therapy,” said Mann.
Many of the Adult Care Society’s clients are seniors with dementia, and Mann says music therapy helps them to relax.
“Music is known to be very therapeutic,” she said. “It brings back old memories, good memories from childhood.”
Altrusa donates $1,300 yearly to the Adult Care Society, which provides music therapy once a week at the society’s centre at 12-142 Larwood Rd. Mann says they have a music therapist come in, musicians play guitar, piano and flute, and they have also invested money into instruments and purchased drums so the society’s clients can play music as well.
“We make sure each client has some exposure to music,” said Mann. “It’s a great program. It really, really helps with Alzheimer’s and dementia because it’s an anxiety … and they may not be able to speak, but everybody understands the language of music. We usually have the musician play old songs because this brings back memories of when they were younger or when they got married – each music piece has a memory for them.”
Mann finds the music can really calm people down.
The Campbell River and District Adult Care Society is a registered charity dedicated to restoring a sense of dignity, reducing isolation, improving the quality of life and assisting individuals – mostly seniors – to remain independent in our community.
The society has been providing social and recreational programs for adults with long-term health concerns, while offering support and respite to primary caregivers, since 1980.
The Adult Care Society’s day program runs Monday to Friday, excluding holidays, and provides social activities and entertainment, peer interaction, group exercise, mental stimulation, nutritional hot lunches and snacks, nursing support, monitoring of medical conditions and medications, and help with toileting, feeding and mobility issues. As well, transportation to the centre in Willow Point and to and from outings is provided. Clients who visit the centre can choose to read, play cards, visit with friends or take part in a variety of activities.
“We really help out lots of seniors. They come here and they don’t need to worry; they will be looked after, they will be well fed and there’s a registered nurse onsite so I will do the assessments – that really helps if someone is not feeling well,” said Mann.
For more information about the Adult Care Society, visit www.cradultcare.com or call 250-923-0991.