By Danielle Galvin
Music is universal regardless of age and it has a way of bringing people together.
That’s why educational services provider Hey dee ho has had such success with Intergenerational Music sessions, with more than 65 run across the country in aged care facilities and nursing homes.
This year, ABC TV struck gold with the show Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds.
The frank and funny docu-series showed a bunch of pre-schoolers visiting an aged care centre with some beautifully heart-warming moments.
The show did something else, too.At Hey dee ho, they’ve never been busier running sessions across Melbourne.
Facilitator Sonja Olsen runs sessions in Camberwell, Kew, Blackburn and Forest Hill, and many others.
“We’ve had crowds turn up since that show,” she said.
“It’s been amazing, we’ve had to start a ticketing system because of that show – now we are having homes contacting us.”
The sessions, run monthly or fortnightly, provide a fun, free activity for parents and young kids as well as bridging the generational gap between the young and old.
She says there’s nothing better than seeing everyone’s faces light up.
“It’s very interactive, there’s lots of encouragement of the kids,” she said.
“A big part of it is so encourage the interaction between the kids and the elderly.
“The (carers) are telling us that some of the residents are non-verbal, some are very reliant on their walkers and suddenly they are up singing and dancing.
“They are seeing a huge benefit to it, singing and dancing and coming to life.”
She said it’s beneficial for children, especially those who haven’t had much interaction with the elderly.
“They connect – and the residents are absolutely in awe of these kids,” she said.
“The kids love being the centre of attention and once they realise these people are looking at them, they start becoming little show-offs, and they are getting such good reaction, all the eyes are in them.
“I’ve had some great feedback – one of the mums was saying her daughter was asking when are we going to go and see those dancing ladies again.”
Engagement and interaction is gently encouraged, but there’s no pressure during the music sessions.
There are children who are tentative at first, but start to relax when the music starts, Sonja says.
