In honor of National Senior Citizens Day, August 21, Classical Music Indy is highlighting one of our Senior Concert Series partners, Meadow Brook Senior Living. Meadow Brook Senior Living is an all-inclusive senior living community in Fishers. We spoke with Derek Burton, Director of Community Relations at Meadow Brook, to learn more about life in the Meadow Brook community.
Meadow Brook Senior Living: It’s All About Them
As our loved ones age it can be difficult to ensure they are provided with the care they need. Meadow Brook Senior Living is an option for seniors in need of care as they reach the end of their life’s journey. Meadow Brook has a Retirement Living community, an Assisted Living community, a Transitional Memory Care program, and a Memory Care program. This variety of options allows Meadow Brook to provide care for all kinds of people. Classical Music Indy is proud to partner with Meadow Brook by regularly performing concerts for both their general population and seniors in Memory Care.
Harpist, Stephanie Newberry Hall, talking to seniors after her performance at Meadow Brook Senior Living.
What makes Meadow Brook special? Derek Burton, Director of Community Relations, says the facility’s Resident Directed Activities set it apart from other places. “If they [residents] like to sew, that’s something we’ll try to bring on the schedule and bring back for them. We don’t just put things on the calendar and expect the residents to like them. We get feedback. We get their opinion on what they would like to see. It’s all about them, and we want to make sure we keep it that way.”
Resident Directed Activities are a big part of the Memory Care program at Meadow Brook. The residents engage in activities that get them back into a routine and keep their brains active. Burton says the activities revolve around “things the residents liked to do before the Dementia or Alzheimer’s set in – things that bring them back.”
An example of a Resident Directed Activity is Meadow Brook’s Spark Radio program. The program is a way for residents to listen to their favorite music from times past. In the Memory Care unit, there are a variety of headphones that are easily accessible to residents. The Meadow Brook staff can then program the headphones with specific pieces of music that cater to each resident’s unique tastes. Burton says, “It’s amazing. When I went to training, at one of our communities, a resident who had just been sitting there (they hadn’t been participating in anything) put on the headphones and they smiled and then started singing! They did not communicate before, but as soon as they heard the music it brought back memories and they knew exactly what they were listening to. It just gives you goosebumps.”
Violinists, Bethany Daugherty and Tricia Frasure, perform and then talk to the audience after performing at Meadow Brook Senior Living.
Arts and Music activities keep residents engaged. By participating in musical activities, a resident’s brain ignites with activity, building and strengthening connections between brain cells. Keeping the brain active is one of the best ways to slow decline in an Alzheimer’s or Dementia patient. In addition to bringing in a variety of musical entertainers, the residents at Meadow Brook have a bell choir where residents can actively make music in a relaxed setting.
When asked about the benefits of Classical Music Indy bringing in live musicians to perform for the residents at Meadow Brook, Burton exclaimed: “Honestly, I think music is the most important thing. Any kind of music is good for the soul. For seniors, it’s peaceful… cognitively it keeps them engaged and active, which slows decline. I’m all for music, anytime!”
Classical Music Indy will continue to provide free concerts for seniors at Meadow Brook and other facilities throughout Central Indiana. Your generous support can make a difference, you can help bring more live concerts to senior facilities, please consider a tax-deductible donation to Classical Music Indy. Donate here. Thank you!
To learn more about Meadow Brook Senior Living, visit: https://www.spectrumretirement.com/senior-living/in/fishers/meadow-brook-senior-living/
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