Act, Belong, Commit to Singing: a Healthy Way to Live

Aim

A research node focused on ameliorating the health and well-being of older people with mental and physical illnesses through the core activity of singing in groups.

Description

The project represents the collaboration between two organisations on either side of Australia which have been developing similar initiatives: Musica Viva in New South Wales, and the Singing for Health Group at The University of Western Australia. This new project develops and refines the delivery of singing programmes, including workshop and performance activities, to ensure that the potential health benefits of singing are obtained and maximised in two growing sectors of the community that are marginalised and isolated: older people living alone in their own homes, and older people with dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease, including other family members or professionals who are their carers.

Singing is identified as a positive and healthy activity owing to the challenging cognitive and physical demands placed upon the participants and the stimulating and socially-including context afforded by singing in a group owing to the rich social setting.

The project draws on best practices from professional music, music therapy and other related health professions. Measures of health benefit, vocal program and leadership style will be sought. In addition, and crucially, approaches to group sustainability will be explored and evaluated.

Bi-annual performance events will provide positive public acknowledgement of both musical and social experiences, and will be showcases to communicate messages pertaining to social inclusion, mental and physical health of older people in the community. The performances will also provide opportunity for dissemination of the work, including sponsorship recognition, further fund-raising, and recruitment.  These events will embrace all six singing groups and will be in venues of prestige, associated with the best standards of artistic performance.

Duration

3 years, 2009-2011 (In Progress)

Funding

Healthway (2009)
J.O. & J.R. Wicking Trust (2009-2011)
Musica Viva (2009-2011)

Key Personnel

• Winthrop Professor Jane Davidson

Research Audience

Music and health, Music psychology, Musicology
 
Benefits
  
It is expected that the project will:

• produce excellence of content and delivery that is specific to improving health outcomes for the target population
• develop truly sustainable singing workshops and performance activities to enable continued growth after the termination of the funding
• improve knowledge and understanding of the benefits of group singing in older people in order to address the determinants and modifiers of health inequalities for our target populations

Outputs

Partnerships have been established with target groups representing a range of community care organisations working in diverse contexts:

• Shenton Park Centre for Alzheimer’s Australia WA Ltd
• Maurice Zeffert Memorial Centre for frail aged and dementia care in Dianella
• The People Who Care, Guildford
• RSL chapel, Menora Gardens, Mount Lawley
• Ac-cent Mandurah meeting place
• Stirling Silver Singers

For each group a programme of 28 2-hour workshops has been established and will be delivered throughout the year. The programme aims to increase membership, broaden the range of musical repertoire, and increase frequency of performance opportunities through the use of high profile performance venues and local community venues.

The project is operating at the leading edge of arts and health practice by introducing singing groups across a range of community environments such as day centres and residential units. It has also offered opportunities for health awareness and promotion of the work by bringing the project into performance environments such as concert halls. The project includes research evaluation of the health outcomes of the activities. The research strand is crucial for it both monitors health and wellbeing outcome and generates information for sustainability. By 2025, 30% of Australians will be in the older age category and vulnerable to the mental and physical health stressors outlined above, making this kind of work crucial for the future.

Acknowledgements

The Project team acknowledges and thanks the funding partners for their support.