2020 was a hard year for everyone. The extended provincial lockdown and restrictions on social interactions raised the risk of depressive symptoms.
Nursing students at Yee Hong Markham wanted to help. They rebooted post-lockdown BSO activities with music on all floors and introduced residents to some gadgets that could be incorporated into their care in the future.
Traditionally, the main goal of BSO was to incorporate gadgets and activities that give residents with dementia another outlet to communicate with their caretakers. In this case, the music concerts held by the nursing students helped to treat depressive symptoms and improved the cognitive functions of residents living with dementia. Devices that stimulate cognitive functions can help residents to communicate and express themselves through different methods.
The students held numerous musical performances to entertain and engage residents. Leading up to the performances, residents and students worked together to make personalized musical instruments using containers, colourful beads, and stickers. Residents chimed in with their instruments as students performed songs on the piano, saxophone, and guitar. Performances from the students included songs such as Teresa Teng’s The Moon Represents My Heart, Sam Hui’s Drifter Song and Billy Joel’s Piano Man.
Surprisingly, one of the gadgets that the students incorporated into their musical performance sparked an interesting interaction. Some of the residents began to mimic the movement of a robot that the students added to their performance. Later, the robot was programmed to lead simple morning stretches. A 2020 research trial at our Mississauga Centre found that residents there enjoyed a similar robot-led exercise program.
Residents were able to sing, clap and shake their instruments along to the music. Moreover, the smiles and participation of the residents met our goal to raise the mood and give feelings of comfort and fun. Feedback from patients’ families and other Yee Hong staff was very positive. The students promised more events to bring joy to the Yee Hong family.
